THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 
MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


THE 


ORANGE    COUNTY    STUD    BOOK, 

GIVING  A  HISTORY  OF 

ALL  NOTED  STALLIONS, 

Bred  and  Raised  in  Orange  County. 
BY  J.  H.  REEVES,  V.  S. 

TO  WHICH  IS  ADDED  A  COMPLETE 

History  of  the  Horse, 

IN  ALL  COUNTRIES, 

IN  HEALTH  AND  IN  SICKNESS, 

WITH  A  THOROUGH  TREATISE 

ON   HIS 

BREEDING,  BREAKING,  SHOEING  AND 

CURING. 

ADDED  TO  WHICH   IS  GIVEN 

A  LIST  OF  THE  BEST  TROTTING  HORSES  AND 
FAMOUS  RACES  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


NEW    YORK: 

JASON  H.  TUTTLE,  PUBLISHER, 

78  NASSAU  STREET. 

1880. 


COPYRIGHTED  1879,  BY  JASON  H.  TUTTLE. 


ELEOTKOTTPBD    BY 

ORUM    &    RINGLER, 

NEW    TORE. 


CONTENTS 

-OF- 

ORANGE  COUNTY  STUD  BOOK. 


INTRODUCTION 7 

Climate  of  Orange  County. ., 7 

BREEDING  IN  ORANGE  COUNTY — 

Imported  Bellfounder 9 

Charles  Kent  Mare 10 

Abdallah 10 

Black  Hawk 10 

Cassius  M.  Clay,  Jr 10 

Harry  Clay 10 

Black  Harry  Clay 11 

HAMBLETONIAN — HISTORY  OF — 

Pedigree 12 

Shown  at  Fair  at  Goshen 13 

Mr.  Rysdyk's  Books 13 

Goldsmith's  Maid 13 

FirstSeason 13 

Hiram  Woodruff's  opinion  of  Abdallahs 14 

Pronounced  "King  of  Horses." 16 

SONS  OF  OLD  HAMBLETONIAN — 

Alexander's  Hambletonian 18 

Captured  by  the  Rebels 18 

Edward  Everett 19 

Volunteer 19 

Middletown ; 20 

Happy  Medium 21 

Idol 21 

Idol's  Colts 22 

Sayer's  Guy  Miller 22 

AMERICAN  STAR — 

Pedigree 24 

His  Pluck,  Bottom  and  Speed 27 

American  Star's  Colts 30 

HISTORY  OF  THE  HORSE — 

Character  of  the  Horse 31 

Wild  Horses 33 

Foreign  Breeds  of  Horses 34 

The  Barb 35 

The  Arab 35 

The  Abyssinian 36 

The  Australia..                                                          38 


CONTENTS. 


The  Turkish 39 

The  Dutch 40 

The  Danish 40 

The  Swedish 40 

The  Finland 40 

The  Norwegian 40 

The  Russian 40 

The  English 41 

Early  English  Jockies 4* 

Regular  Races  first  established 44 

White  Turk 45 

New  Market  Course 46 

Highflyer  and  Eclipse 46 

Bryerley  Turk 47 

Brocklesby  Betty 48 

Bonny  Black 48 

Flying  Childers 49 

Eclipse 50 

King  Herod <5L 

Many  Celebrated  Horses 51 

VARIETIES  OF  HORSES — 

The  Race  Horse 52 

The  Hunter 54 

The  Saddle  Horse 55 

The  Coach  Horse 59 

The  Galloway 62 

The  Cart  Horse 63 

The  Clydesdale  Horse 64 

The  Farmer's  Horse 64 

Early  Training 65 

CO  {FORMATION  OF  THE  HORSE — 

General  Observations 68 

The  Head 69 

The  Chest 69 

The  Back 70 

The  Shoulder 70 

The  Arm 70 

The  Knee 71 

The  Teeth— 71 

"        — Change 72 

—Trickery 74 

The  Foot 75 

The  Hoof 76 

The  Sole 77 

The  Senses  of  the  Horse 78 

Docking v. 79 

ON  BREEDING  STOCK 80 

Qualities  needed 82 

Proper  Crosses 85 

On  Choice  of  Mares 87 

Success  of  a  Breeding  Stud 88 

Results  in  favor  of  Blood 90 


CONTENTS. 


Good  Judges  of  Horses 92 

Superiority  of  Mares  over  Geldings 92 

Hereditary  Defects 94 

TREATMENT  AND  MANAGEMENT  OF  THE  HORSE. 

The  Stable 95 

A  Perfect  Stable 98 

Tlie  Horse's  Food 99 

Nutritious  Matter 102 

Milk  of  Brood  Mares 104 

General  Management 105 

Breaking  Colts 107 

Acts  of  Cruelty 108 

The  Nose  Bag 109 

Watering  Horses 110 

Of  Farm  Horses Ill 

DISEASES  OF  HORSES — 

Congestion 112 

Apoplexy 113 

Stomach  Staggers 114 

Congestions  of  other  kinds 114 

"Liver 114 

Swelled  Legs 114 

Fever 114 

Mucous  Membrane 115 

Blain 115 

Barbs,  Lampas  Canker 115 

Poisons,  Colic,  Entanglement,  Worms 116 

Respiratory  Passages 117 

Chronic  Cough,  Thick  Wind,  Glanders 118 

Urinary  and  Genital  Organs 118 

Inflammation  of  Bladder,  etc 119 

Itchiness,  Warts,  Hard 119 

Diseases  of  the  Eye 120 

"      Brain 120 

Epilepsy,  Palsy,  Rabies 121 

Pleurisy 121 

Dropsy  and  Inflammation  of  the  Heart 122 

Castration 122 

Opened  Joint 123 

Spavin 123 

Windgalls,  Thorough-pin,  Blood  Spavin 124 

Poll  Evil,  Abscess,  Swangles,  Farcy 125 

Surfeits,  Mange,  Hide-bound,  Grease 126 

Splints,  Sprains,  Windgalls 127 

Ring-bone,  Acute  Founder,  Pumiced  Foot,  Contracted  Feet. .  128 

Navicular  Joint  Disease,  Sand  Crack 129 

False  Quarter,  Over-reach 129 

Quittor,  Corns,  Thrush,  Canker 130 

SHOEING — 

Clips,  the  Calkin 133 

The  Bar  Shoe,  the  Tip 134 

Leather  Shoe,  Horse  Sandal 135 


CONTENTS. 


ON  SOUNDNESS — 

Roaring 135 

Different  Class  of  Roaring 137 

THE  TROTTING  HORSE — 

Popularity  of  Driving 141 

Russian  and  English  Trotters 142 

Messenger    Stock 143 

Mambrino         "  144 

Hambletonian  "   144 

Canadian  Trotters 146 

Black  Hawk's  Colts 148 

Pacing 148 

Pelham,  Cayuga  Chief 149 

Vermont  Black  Hawk 151 

Morrill's  Morgans,  American  Star 153 

List  of  Great  Trotting  Sires 153 

VICES  AND  DANGEROUS  HABITS  OF  THE  HORSE — 

Restiveness 155 

Backing 156 

Biting 157 

Getting  the  Bit,  Kicking 158 

Unsteadiness,  Rearing,  Running  Away 159 

Vicious  to  Clean,  Vicious  to  Shoe 160 

Swallowing  without  Grinding 160 

Crib  Biting 161 

Wind  Sucking,  Cutting 162 

Not  Lying  Down 162 

Over-reach,  Pawing 163 

Quidding,  Rolling,  Shying 164 

Slipping  the  Collar,  Tripping 165 

Weaving 166 

BREAKING  TO  HARNESS — 

Early  Proceedings 167 

The  Apparatus 168 

The  Actual  Putting  to 169 

First  Lessons 170 

Bonner's  Great  Stables 171 

Time  of  Horses  by  Ajax 173 

Recipes 178 


INTRODUCTION. 


THE  author  of  tins  work,  a  native,  and  for  years  a  resident 
of  Orange  County,  and  one  whose  avocation  has  thrown  him 
much  into  the  society  of  her  horsemen,  and  consequently  en- 
abled him  to  acquire  very  valuable  information  in  regard  to 
the  breeding  of  horses  in  that  county,  and  the  history  and 
pedigree  of  its  celebrated  animals,  in  presenting  his  book  to 
the  public,  hopes  that,  in  estimating  its  value,  the  reliability, 
novelty,  and  usefulness  of  its  statements  will  be  taken  into 
consideration  by  the  reader.  It  is  probable  that  no  useful 
animal  is  more  affected  by  climate  and  food  than  the  horse; 
and  while  the  climate  of  the  County  of  Orange  seems  favor- 
able to  the  production  of  the  horse,  and  its  rich  pastures  and 
fine  meadows  afford  the  elements  for  developing  the  finest 
form  and  most  enduring  constitutions,  it  is  only  by  a  judi- 
cious system  of  breeding  that  to  these  two  requisites  of  a 
good  horse,  the  third,  that  of  speed,  can  be  added. 

Our  ideas  of  the  system  of  breeding  which  should  be 
adopted  in  order  to  be  successful,  and  the  reasons  upon 
which  they  are  founded,  constitute  our  first  article.  It  con- 
tains no  idle  dogmas  or  worthless  and  fantastic  theories,  cal- 
culated to  lead  the  earnest  and  honest  searcher  for  useful 
knowledge  into  gross  errors  and  mistakes,  but  rather  a 
collection  of  rules,  precepts,  and  facts,  deduced  from  long 
experience  in  and  close  observation  of  all  matters  pertaining 
to  the  subject. 

While  it  is  an  undeniable  fact  that  many  fast  trotters  have 
been  bred  and  raised  by  persons  who  had  no  knowledge  of 
these  principles,  yet  if  the  pedigree  of  such  could  be  cor- 
rectly traced,  it  would  be  found  that  the  breeders  thereof 
have  almost  invariably  conformed  unintentionally  to 


8  THE   CHANGE   COUNTY 

established  rules,  and  that,  consequef'  ./,  instead  of  the  prog- 
eny being  simply  the  result  of  ^nance,  it  was  produced 
under  and  in  strict  accordance  ^ith  the  fixed  rule  of  the  law 
of  nature — that  "like  will  produce  like." 

In  proof  of  the  soundness  of  our  theory  in  regard  to 
breeding,  we  shall  follow  the  above-mentioned  article  with 
the  pedigree  and  history  of  a  few  of  the  most  celebrated 
stock  horses  which  have  been  produced  in  Orange  County, 
which,  if  carefully  perused,  cannot  fail  to  convince  the  reader 
of  the  infallibility  ojf  the  law  of  reproduction.  And  while 
our  work  is  designed  more  particularly  for  those  who,  in 
consequence  of  their  interest  therein,  may  properly  be  styled 
"  horsemen,"  yet  we  trust  that  it  will  not  be  altogether  with- 
out interest  to  the  general  reader,  and  that  he  may  obtain 
some  useful  information  in  regard  to  the  animal  which  con- 
tributes so  much  to  the  comfort  and  pleasure  of  mankind, 
and  which  represents  so  largely  the  wealth  of  our  citizens. 

The  author  has  spent  much  time  in  obtaining  the  reliable 
pedigree  and  history  of  the  noted  stallion,  American  Star, 
and  facts  are  herein  disclosed  in  regard  to  the  history  of 
Bysdyk's  Hambletonian  never  before  made  public;  as  these 
are  now  universally  regarded  as  the  representative  stock 
horses  of  Orange  County,  and  as  the  history  of  each  is  re- 
plete with  interest. 


STUD   BOOK. 


BREEDING 
IN    ORANGE    COUNTY. 


BEFORE  proceeding  to  the  general  subject  of  breeding 
horses  and  kindred  subjects,  we  pass  to  notice  the  history 
and  results  thereof  in  Orange  County,  in  which  county  the 
subject  has  received  great  attention,  and  has  been  rendered 
exceedingly  profitable  to  those  who  have  engaged  judiciously 
therein.  Indeed,  from  the  time  when  the  attention  of  the 
citizens  of  this  county  was  first  drawn  to  this  subject,  the 
standard  of  trotting  horses  throughout  the  country  has  been 
r::adually  elevated,  and  their  speed  so  increased,  that  with 
Lie  present  established  record  of  2:17,  it  would  seem  that  it 
nas  now  reached  its  lowest  second,  and  that  not  much  greater 
achievements  could  reasonably  ba  expected  from  horseflesh. 

The  first  stallion  that  we  ever  saw  advertised  as  possess- 
ing trotting  qualities  was  imported  Bellfounder,  in  the  year 
1823.  He  was  a  bright  bay,  with  black  mane,  tail,  and  legs, 
standing  fifteen  hands  high;  and  his  superior  blood,  sym- 
metry of  form,  and  action,  excelled  all  other  stallions.  He 
was  allowed,  by  the  best  judges  in  Norfolk,  England,  to  be 
the  fastest  and  best-bred  stallion  ever  sent  out  of  that  coun- 
try. No  doubt  he  was,  for,  as  a  proof,  he  stayed  here  only 
one  year,  and  was  then  taken  back.  Bellfounder  made  the 
season  at  Washingtonville,  with  full  pedigree  given,  at 
twenty-five  dollars  to  insure  a  mare  in  foal  And  here,  well 
niay  we  mention,  that,  forty  years  ago,  twenty-five  dollars 
made  the  farmers  of  Orange  County  open  their  eyes,  for  at 
that  time,  it  is  a  fact  well-known,  tliat  the  price  of  service 
was  looked  at,  not  pedigree. 


10  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

Bellfounder  at  that  time  was  said  to  have  trotted  seventeen 
miles  in  an  hour.  Notwithstanding  what  was  then  considered 
an  exorbitant  price,  Bellfounder  was  patronized,  for  the 
Crabtree  mare  was  his  daughter,  and  the  mother  of  J.  D. 
Sayer's  Harry  Clay,  who  has  proved  himself  a  trotter,  and  the 
sire  of  trotters.  Bellf  ounder  was  the  sire  of  the  Charles  Kent 
mare,  the  mother  of  the  celebrated  stallion  Hambletonian, 
the  property  of  the  late  Wm.  M.  Rysdyk,  of  Chester,  Orange 
County,  N.  Y.  Of  this  horse  and  his  get,  a  place  will  be 
found  in  this  book.  We  pass  through  the  years  of  our  Hy- 
landers,  Hickories,  Wild  Airs,  Liberties,  Lances,  Bolivars, 
Ottoways,  Bullfrogs,  and  a  host  of  others,  many  of  whose  get 
made  good  mothers,  properly  bred,  for  they  were  all  bred 
up.  There  was  not  much  change  in  breeding  valuable  horses 
until  about  the  spring  of  1847,  when  Abdallah  came  into  this 
county.  He  was  a  big,  coarse,  homely  horse;  and  then  the 
farmers  first  began  to  look  at  and  turn  their  attention,  many 
of  them,  to  pedigree  and  blood.  This  horse  Abdallah  was 
almost  if  not  the  first  point  made  in  Orange  County  in  bring- 
ing the  breeding  of  trotters  to  the  standard  it  has  reached  at 
the  present  time.  Black  Hawk  came  into  the  county  next,  and 
left  some  good  colts.  His  mare  colts  have  made  some  of  our 
best  breeders.  Charles  Bull,  of  the  town  of  Blooming  Grove, 
has  a  mare  sired  by  Black  Hawk  that  has  raised  him  six 
colts  by  Hambletonian,  all  horse  colts,  and  have  been  sold 
young.  He  has  one  foaled  in  1871.  And  these  colts  have 
averaged  Mr.  Bull  two  thousand  four  hundred  dollars.  Other 
mares  by  Black  Hawk  are  valued  highly  as  breeders.  Blaci 
Hawk  died  in  Montgomery,  July,  1853. 

Cassius  M.  Clay,  Jr.  made  his  appearance  here  in  the 
spring  of  1852.  His  get  has  been  of  great  value  for  breed- 
ing purposes,  as  it  gave  us  more  size,  more  bone,  and  speed. 
He  left  a  large  number  of  good  ones  in  this  county.  His 
price  for  service  was  twenty  dollars,  which  was  thought  to  be 
extravagant  by  those  who  patronized  him.  J.  D.  Sayer's 
Harry  Clay  was  one  of  his  get — was  foaled  in  the  spring  of 
1853 — was  kept  for  service  in  this  county  until  he  was  sold, 


STUD   BOOK.  11 

in  1862,  to  Harry  Dater,  of  New  York,  for  five  thousand  dol- 
lars. This  horse  was  a  stock  horse  that  improved  our  breeds 
for  bone,  size,  and  speed.  Of  his  get  many  are  of  note  on  the 
turf,  his  mares  are  highly  appreciated  on  our  breeding  farms, 
and  his  horse  colts  kept  as  stallions  have  been  sold  at  high 
figures  and  left  our  county.  One  is  still  here  kept  for  ser- 
vice; this  is  Black  Harry  Clay,  foaled  in  the  spring  of  1859. 
He  was  bred  by  Wm.  Owen,  and  owned  by  him  and  Brad.  P. 
Doty,  but  has  always  been  under  the  control  of  Brad.  This 
horse  is  a  trotter,  and  his  get  are  trotters.  One  of  his  colts 
was  sold  to  Gen.  Kilpatrick  for  four  thousand  dollars  in  gold, 
and  taken  to  Chili.  Cassius  M.  Clay,  the  sire  of  Cassius  M. 
Clay,  Jr.,  stood  for  service  in  Montgomery,  and  died  in  the 
same  stable  that  the  Black  Hawk  died  in,  July,  1854.  He 
was  driven  to  death,  and  Black  Hawk  doctored  to  death.  As 
this  family  of  horses  all  have  their  representatives  at  the 
present  day,  we  must  give  space  and  time  for  those  that  are 
still  on  the  stage  of  action.  We  will  leave  this  by  giving  a 
history  of  the  celebrated  stallion  Hambletonian  and  his  get 


12  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 


HISTORY 

OF   THE 

HORSE    HAMBLETONIAN, 

THE  PROPERTY  OF  THE  LATE  WM.  M.  RYSDYK. 


THE  pedigree  of  this  celebrated  horse  is  familiar  to  almost 
every  horseman  throughout  the  civilized  world;  indeed,  per- 
haps no  single  horse  ever  foaled  has  won  from  his  own  in- 
trinsic merits  such  an  extensive  and  enduring  reputation. 

He  was  by  Abdallah,  the  grandson  of  the  renowned  im- 
ported Messenger;  his  dam  the  Charles  Kent  mare,  and  she 
by  imported  Bellfounder. 

Abdallah  was  kept  for  mares  at  Chester,  Orange  County, 
in  the  years  eighteen  hundred  and  forty-seven  and  eight,  at 
twenty  dollars  to  insure  a  colt.  In  the  latter  year,  Jona  i 
Seely,  of  the  same  town,  owned  this  Charles  Kent  mare,  and 
bred  her  to  the  horse  Abdallah.  She  proved  with  foal,  and 
on  the  fifteenth  day  of  May,  eighteen  hundred  and  forty-nine, 
gave  birth  to  the  colt  which  since  has  become  so  famous 
throughon&vthe  land  under  the  name  of  Hambletonian. 

The  mare,  with  her  colt  by  her  side,  was  sold  by  Mr. 
Seely  to  the  late  William  M.  Eysdyk,  for  the  sum  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  dollars.  The  circumstances  of  Mr. 
Rysdyk  were  at  this  time  very  limited,  and  it  was  only 
through  the  assistance  of  friends  that  he  was  enabled  to 
effect  the  purchase  even  at  the  low  figures  named  by  the 
owner.  From  the  price  paid  we  may  readily  infer  that  there 
was  nothing  very  attractive  or  extraordinary  either  in  the 
appearance  of  the  dam  or  her  foal.  The  colt,  however 


STUD  BOOK.  13 

under  the  careful  management  of  his  new  owner,  rapidly  im- 
proved, and  was  shown  the  same  fall  at  the  fair  of  the  Orange 
County  Agricultural  Society  at  Goshen. 

At  this  exhibition  he  was  led  by  the  side  of  a  horse,  and 
was  equipped  with  a  white  bridle,  martingals,  and  girth,  a 
fact  often  spoken  of  by  men  who  were  boys  at  that  time. 
This  brought  the  colt  into  some  little  notoriety,  which  arose, 
perhaps,  more  from  the  style  of  his  equipment  than  anything 
else,  as  it  was  something  novel  in  those  days  to  see  one  so 
young  exhibited  in  that  style  and  manner.  This  was  in  the 
fall  of  eighteen  hundred  and  forty-nine,  and  he  was  again 
shown  in  the  fall  of  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty  at  the  same 
place,  and  under  circumstances  equally  as  well  calculated  to 
attract  attention. 

In  the  spring  of  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-one  we  saw 
him  again,  at  the  residence  of  his  owner,  and  so  greatly  had 
he  improved,  and  so  rapid  had  been  his  growth,  that  al- 
though he  was  but  two  years  old,  he  resembled  in  almost 
every  particular  a  fully-developed  horse. 

Mr.  Kysdyk,  during  this  season,  allowed  him  to  cover 
four  mares,  as  appears  by  Mr.  K.'s  books,  which  we  have  been 
kindly  permitted  to  inspect,  and  to  which  we  are  indebted 
for  much  of  the  information  hereinafter  contained. 

He  got  three  colts  from  these  mares  (two  horses  and  one 
mare),  and  no  price  is  charged  for  the  services  upon  the 
book,  an  omission,  however,  which  never  thereafter  occurs. 
One  of  these  colts  soon  thereafter  came  into  the  hands  of 
Major  J.  Seeley  Edsall,  of  Goshen,  and  under  his  careful 
handling  soon  proved  himself  a  superior  horse. 

The  Major  kept  him  for  mares  four  years  at  Goshen,  and 
then  sold  him  to  Mr.  Alexander,  of  Kentucky;  he,  however, 
had  in  the  meantime  become  the  father  of  the  filly  now  so 
widely  known  throughout  this  country  as  Goldsmith's  Maid. 
We  might  mention  many  other  "  good  ones"  from  him,  but 
for  the  present  must  trace  the  history  of  his  sire. 

In  speaking  of  this — Harnbletonian's  first  season — it  is  a 
fact  worthy  of  remark,  that  a  very  large  percentage  of  his 


14  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

progeny  thus  far  in  his  prolific  career  have  been  males,  and 
that  while  large  numbers  of  them  have  from  time  to  time 
covered  themselves  with  glory  in  their  contests  upon  the 
turf,  the  reputation  of  the  old  horse  as  a  father  of  trotters 
would  scarcely  arise  above  mediocrity  were  it  entirely 
dependent  upon  the  exploits  of  his  daughters. 

Tn  the  spring  of  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-two  he  was 
offered  for  service  to  a  limited  number  of  mares  at  twenty- 
five  dollars  to  insure  a  colt.  While  we  cannot  assert  that  the 
practice  of  limiting  the  number  of  mares  to  be  served  during 
the  season  was  inaugurated  by  Mr.  Bysdyk  at  this  time,  yet 
it  is  a  fact  which  cannot  be  gainsayed,  that  his  example  has 
been  rigidly  followed  ever  since  by  the  owners  of  stallions  in 
their  advertisements  at  least.  During  this  season  he  served 
seventeen  mares,  and  got  thirteen  colts.  In  the  fall  he  was 
taken  to  the  Island  to  be  trained  as  a  trotter,  and  after  going 
through  a  term  of  three  months  of  this  kind  of  education,  he 
returned  to  Chester,  without  having  made  any  public  record 
of  his  performance  upon  the  turf.  Notwithstanding  the  as- 
sertion of  the  renowned  Hiram  Woodruff,  that  the  Abdallahs 
could  endure  more  early  training  than  almost  any  other 
breed  of  horses,  we  are  credibly  informed  that  this  son  of 
Abdallah  was  retired  from  the  turf  thus  early  in  consequence 
of  his  inability  to  withstand  its  severe  exactions. 

In  the  spring  of  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-three  he  was 
advertised  for  service.  His  full  pedigree  was  given,  and 
twenty-five  dollars  was  again  asked  to  insure  a  colt. 

The  breeders  of  Orange  County,  at  this  early  day  in  the 
history  of  the  horse,  began  to  appreciate  his  fine  qualities, 
and  to  extend  to  him  a  liberal  patronage,  as  he  covered  dur- 
ing this  season  one  hundred-and-one  mares,  and  got  seventy- 
eight  colts.  His  success  as  a  stock  horse  was  now  fully  as- 
sured, and  without  any  brilliant  performance  upon  the  turf, 
or  any  of  that  puffing  and  blowing  so  frequently  used  both 
to  create  and  perpetuate  the  reputation  of  stallions,  he  en- 
tered upon  a  career  never  equalled  in  the  annals  of  horse- 
breeding.  In  the  spring  of  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-four 


STUD   BOOK.  15 

a  similar  advertisement  appeared,  with  the  single  exception 
that  the  price  was  raised  to  thirty-five  dollars.  Eighty-eight 
mares  were  served,  and  sixty-three  colts  were  paid  for.  In 
eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-five,  at  the  same  place  and  price, 
he  served  eighty-nine  mares,  and  sixty-four  colts  were  paid 
for.  In  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-six,  eighty-seven  mares 
and  sixty-four  colts.  In  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-seven, 
eighty-seven  mares  and  sixty-three  colts.  In  eighteen  hun- 
dred and  fifty-eight,  seventy-two  mares  and  fifty-four  colts. 
In  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-nine,  ninety-five  mares  and 
sixty-six  colts.  In  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty,  one  hun- 
dred and  six  mares  and  seventy-two  colts.  In  eighteen  hun- 
dred and  sixty-one,  ninety-eight  mares  and  sixty-eight  colts. 
In  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-two,  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
eight  mares  and  one-hundred  and  eleven  colts  were  paid  for. 
During  these  preceding  nine  years  he  stood  a  part  of  the 
time  at  Goshen,  but  principally  at  his  owner's  stable  in  Ches- 
ter, at  thirty-five  dollars  to  insure. 

The  brilliant  performances  of  his  colts  upon  the  turf  had 
now  given  their  sire  a  national  reputation.  They  were  in 
great  demand,  and  commanded  high,  and  in  many  instances, 
exorbitant  prices;  and  the  breeding  of  trotters  received  a 
new  and  greater  impetus  than  ever  before  throughout  the 
county.  A  new  road  to  fortune  and  wealth  was  opened,  and 
many  a  farmer,  into  whose  brain  the  idea  of  making  a  dollar 
in  any  other  way  than  by  the  production  of  milk  and  butter 
had  never  entered,  prompted  by  the  success  of  a  neighbor, 
turned  his  attention  to  breeding  horses,  and  forthwith  con- 
cluded "  to  put  the  old  mare." 

Mr.  Rysdyk,  taking  advantage  of  this  state  of  affairs, 
raised  his  price  for  the  services  of  Hambletonian  to  seventy- 
five  dollars,  at  which  price,  in  the  season  of  eighteen  hun- 
dred and  sixty-three,  he  covered  one  hundred  and  fifty 
mares  and  got  ninety-two  colts.  The  next  season,  eighteen 
hundred  and  sixty-four,  the  price  was  again  raised  to  one 
hundred  dollars  ;  two  hundred  and  seventeen  mares  were 
covered  and  one  hundred  and  forty-eight  colts  got.  In 


16  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-five  the  price  was  raised  to  three 
hundred  dollars  to  insure,  one  hundred  dollars  to  be  paid  at 
time  of  service.  During  this  season  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
three  mares  were  served,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight 
colts  got.  The  following  season,  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty- 
six,  at  five  hundred  dollars,  one  hundred  of  which  was  re- 
quired to  be  paid  down,  he  served  one  hundred  and  five 
mares  and  got  seventy-five  colts.  In  eighteen  hundred  and 
sixty-seven,  he  served  seventy-seven  mares  and  got  forty-one 
colts. 

As  might  reasonably  have  been  expected,  from  the  polyg- 
amous course  of  life  to  which  the  old  horse  had  for  years 
been  subjected,  his  physical  powers  became  weakened,  and 
during  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-eight  he  was  re- 
tired from  the  stud,  and  covered  no  mares.  Notwithstand- 
ing, however,  the  prognostications  of  many  that  he  was 
"played  out,"  a  season's  rest  had  a  highly  beneficial  effect 
upon  him,  and  during  the  following  season  he  served  twenty- 
one  mares  and  got  fourteen  colts.  In  eighteen  hundred  and 
seventy  he  served  twenty-two  mares  and  got  thirteen  colts. 
In  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-one  he  was  limited  to  thirty 
mares,  which  he  served,  and  from  which  he  got  twenty 
colts,  having  left  some  seventy  applicants  unserved  in 
consequence  of  this  limitation..  We  have  been  informed  by 
Mr.  Geo.  Andrews,  under  whose  management  and  direction 
Hambletonian  now  is,  that  for  the  coming  season  of  eighteen 
hundred  and  seventy-two  over  one  hundred  applications 
have  been  received,  from  which  number,  however,  but  thirty 
will  be  accepted.  Upon  a  recent  visit  to  Chester,  the  old 
horse  was  shown  to  us  by  his  very  gentlemanly  manager. 
Although  exhibiting  many  of  the  indications  of  old  age,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  yet  his  eye  appeared  bright  and  undimmed 
by  years,  while  his  coat  was  glossy;  and  those  peculiar 
points  which  long  since  have  led  him  to  be  pronounced  the 
"  King  of  Horses,"  still  stand  out  in  bold  relief.  While 
standing  in  his  majestic  presence,  and  remembering  the  fact 
that  he  was  the  sire  of  twelve  hundred  and  fifty  standing 


STUD   BOOK.  17 

colts,  that  they  or  their  progeny  were  represented  in  almost 
every  state  and  county  throughout  the  United  States,  and  in 
almost  every  country  in  the  civilized  world,  and  that  upon 
their  successful  contests  upon  the  turf,  fortunes  have  been 
won  again  and  again,  we  could  not  but  respect  and  venerate 
him.  Although,  in  the  natural  course  of  events,  the  days  of 
the  old  horse  will  soon  be  numbered,  yet  upon  the  undeni- 
able maxim  that  "like  begets  Like"  we  shall  continue  to  pro- 
duce trotters  in  Orange  County  for  years  to  come  which 
will  maintain  our  proud  and  pre-eminent  position  upon  the 
turf. 

The  sons  and  grandsons  of  the  princely  old  horse  are 
yearly  begetting  colts  superior  to  themselves,  and  with  our 
present  knowledge  of  breeding  judiciously  applied,  we  have 
no  hesitation  in  asserting  that  the  speed  of  trotting  horses 
will  still  be  vastly  increased,  and  that  the  future  Kings  and 
Queens  of  the  turf  will  hail  from  Orange  County. 


18  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 


THE    SONS 

OF 

OLD    HAMBLETONIAN. 


IN  view  of  the  length  of  time  in  which  Hambletonian  has 
been  at  the  stud,  and  of  the  vast  number  of  colts  of  which, 
during  that  time,  he  has  become  the  sire — as  portrayed  by 
the  preceding  article — it  cannot  be  expected  that  we  will  give 
more  than  a  passing  notice  of  a  few  of  the  many  celebrated 
stallions  which  have  sprung  from  his  loins;  and  the  first  we 
will  mention  is — 

ALEXANDER'S  HAMBLETONIAN. 

This  horse — or  as  he  is  more  familiarly  known  in  Orange 
County — Edsall's  Hambletonian,  was,  as  we  have  previously 
remarked,  one  of  Hambletonian's  first  get,  having  been  foaled 
in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-two,  out  of  a  mare  by 
Bay  Roman,  he  by  Mambrino,  and  he  by  Messenger. 

He  was  purchased,  when  quite  young,  by  Major  Edsall,  of 
Goshen,  and  was  kept  by  him  until  eighteen  hundred  and 
fifty-nine,  when  he  was  sold  to  Mr.  Alexander,  of  Lexington, 
Kentucky.  During  the  time  he  was  owned  by  Major  Edsall, 
he  proved  himself  not  only  to  be  very  speedy,  but  also  one 
of  the  finest  stock  horses  ever  produced.  It  is  said  that,  dur- 
ing the  war,  he  was  stolen  by  the  rebels,  and  that  Alexander 
offered  a  reward  of  one  thousand  dollars  for  his  recovery. 
Stimulated  by  this  liberal  reward,  parties  immediately  set 
out  for  his  recapture,  and  one  of  the  pursuants,  mounted 
upon  a  thorough-bred  mare,  succeeded  in  overtaking  the 
thief,  when  a  conflict  with  arms  commenced,  during  which 


STUD  BOOK.  19 

the  stallion  was  unfortunately  accidentally  shot.  He  was 
returned  to  his  owner,  and  the  reward  paid;  but,  either  from  the 
effects  of  the  wound,  or  from  over-exertion,  he  died  very  soon 
thereafter.  He  was  the  sire  of  Goldsmith's  Maid,  now  the 
acknowledged  Queen  of  the  Turf;  of  Major  Edsall,  a  very 
fast  stallion;  and  of  many  other  good  ones  not  so  well  known; 
indeed,  it  is  almost  the  universal  opinion  of  the  experienced 
hoi-semen  of  the  county,  that  had  he  remained  therein  he 
would  long  ere  this  have  acquired  a  reputation  as  a  stock 
horse  not  even  second  to  his  sire. 

EDWARD  EVERETT, 

(Formerly  Major  Winfield),  has  recently,  in  consequence  of 
the  achievements  of  his  colts,  greatly  distinguished  himself 
as  a  stock  horse.  His  dam  is  said  to  have  been  by  imported 
Margrave,  and  was  formerly  owned  and  used  under  the  saddle 
by  the  Hon.  Thomas  George,  of  this  county.  He  bred  her  to 
Hainbletonian;  and,  although  recognizing  the  superior  quali- 
ties of  his  mare,  yet,  for  some  reason,  he  gave  the  colt  to 
Sheriff  Lillum,  upon  condition  that  he  would  keep  the  mare 
until  the  colt  was  weaned.  In  connection  with  this  fact,  it 
may  be  mentioned,  that  Judge  George  bought  one  of  Everett's 
sons,  which  has  since  become  noted,  viz.,  Mountain  Boy, 
when  four  years  old;  but  as  this  horse  at  that  time  showed 
nothing  very  promising,  to  say  the  least,  he  sold  him  to 
Esquire  Bingham,  soon  after,  for  one  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars. 

Everett  is  also  the  sire  of  Judge  Fullerton  and  Joe  Elliott, 
who  are  of  themselves  enough  to  demonstrate  the  great  value 
of  their  sire.  He  was  purchased  by  Robert  Bonner,  for 
twenty  thousand  dollars,  and  is  now  standing  at  the  Lagrange 
Farm  in  this  county,  under  the  management  of  Mr.  Win.  H. 
Keetch. 

VOLUNTEER. 

"While  the  success  of  a  stallion,  either  as  a  trotter  or  as 
a  stock  producer,  must  depend  very  much  upon  his  own 


20  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

intrinsic  merits,  yet,  in  both  of  these  particulars,  much  also 
depends  upon  his  management  and  the  care  and  treatment 
v/hich  he  receives  at  the  hands  or  by  the  direction  of  his 
owner.  In  this  particular,  Volunteer  has  been  extremely  for- 
tunate. His  owner,  Mr.  Alden  Goldsmith,  is  one  of  the  most 
intelligent  and  practical  breeders  in  the  county,  and,  indeed, 
may  justly  be  considered  the  pioneer  breeder  of  trotters 
therein.  His  great  experience  and  sound  judgment  has  led 
him  to  adopt  a  judicious  system  of  crossing  this  horse  with 
mares  of  his  own,  the  results  of  which  have  of  themselves 
established  a  reputation  for  the  horse  which  is  exceedingly 
enviable.  His  dam  was  by  Young  Patriot,  a  descendant  of 
Messenger;  and  his  colts  are  generally  very  good  sized, 
strong,  and  handsome. 

Among  the  speedy  ones,  we  may  mention  Hamlet,  W.  H. 
Allen,  Huntress,  and  Bodine;  while  we  understand  that  a 
Whirlwind  will  soon  appear  upon  the  turf  which  will  astonish 
the  world. 

MIDDLETOWN. 

Recent  exploits  of  the  colts  of  this  horse  have  greatly 
increased  his  popularity  as  a  breeder,  and  have  placed  him  in 
the  foremost  rank  of  stallions,  some  horsemen  even  predict- 
ing that  he  is  the  "coining  stock  horse."  He  is  out  of  a 
mare  by  American  Eclipse,  a  grandson  of  Messenger,  and 
thus  had  a  combination  of  the  very  best  strains  of  the 
Messenger  blood. 

Although  his  colts  are  quite  young,  yet  one  of  them — 
Music,  owned  by  that  exp3rt  horseman  and  judicious  trainer, 
William  Trimble,  of  Newburgh — a  four-year-old,  out  of  a 
second  Star  mare,  has  shown  herself  to  be  extremely  fast 
upon  several  occasions. 

Middletown  has  been  absent  from  the  county  for  several 
months,  but  we  are  glad  to  learn  that  he  will  make  the  coin- 
ing season  at  Middletown,  and  we  doubt  not  but  that  many 
of  our  breeders  will  avail  themselves  of  his  services. 


STUD  BOOK.  21 

HAPPY  MEDIUM. 

The  mother  of  this  stallion  was  the  renowned  Princess, 
that  so  frequently  and  so  gamely  disputed  the  supremacy  of 
the  turf  with  Flora  Temple,  which  is  probably  all  the  enco- 
mium he  needs  at  our  hands.  He  was  sold  last  season  by  Mr. 
Fowler  Galloway,  to  parties  in  Philadelphia,  for  a  large  price; 
yet  the  investment  will  undoubtedly  be  exceedingly  profit- 
able to  his  present  owners,  as  we  understood  he  afterwards 
covered  one  hundred  mares  at  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars 
for  the  season.  Mr.  J.  S.  EdsaU,  who  has  been  the  fortunate 
owner  of  some  of  the  very  best  stock  ever  produced  in  the 
county,  has  a  very  fine  bay  stallion  by  him,  out  of  a  Black 
Hawk  mare. 

IDOL. 

Mr.  Backman,  the  owner  of  this  fine  young  horse,  is  the 
most  extensive  breeder  of  trotters  in  the  world.  And  inas- 
much as,  since  the  establishment  of  his  large  business  at 
Stonyford,  he  has  almost  monopolized  the  services  of  Old 
Harnbletonian,  and  consequently  has  become  the  owner  of  a 
large  number  of  his  colts,  it  will  not  be  within  the  scope  of 
our  little  volume  to  give  a  detailed  description  of  the  many 
which  are  worthy  thereof.  We  have  selected  Idol,  not  only 
as  our  favorite,  but  as  the  recognized  head  of  his  stud,  to  fill 
the  small  space  we  have  to  spare.  He  is  one  of  the  best 
proportioned  animals  in  the  county — handsome,  intelligent, 
with  fine  limbs  and  gait.  He  is  out  of  a  mare  by  Harry 
Clay;  second  dam  said  to  be  by  Terror.  Although  Mr. 
Backman  may  have  evidence  sufficient  to  prove  the  latter 
fact,  yet,  notwithstanding  we  have  known  this  grandam  for 
years,  and  always  believed,  from  her  appearance,  that  she 
was  well  bred,  it  was  never  discovered  that  she  had  the 
pedigree  now  claimed  for  her  until  after  she  became  the 
property  of  Mr.  Backman.  The  dam  of  Idol  was  bred  by 
Lewis  Tuthill,  of  Unionville,  and  was  sold  by  him  when  she 
was  three  years  old  for  one  hundred  dollars. 


22  THE   CHANGE   COUNTY 

Since  that  time  colts  have  been  raised  from  her  of  suffi- 
cient value  to  amount  to  one  or  two  very  line  fortunes.  The 
objection  will  undoubtedly  be  raised  by  some  that  Idol  has 
Clay  blood  in  his  veins,  and  that  his  value  is  thereby  consid- 
erably decreased.  Permit  us,  however,  to  remark  just  here 
that,  while  we  are  willing  to  acknowledge  that  the  Clays  as 
trotters  have  not  proved  a  success,  we  nevertheless  consider 
the  mares  of  this  breed  of  great  value  as  breeders.  They 
are  natural  trotters,  with  splendid  action  and  lots  of  speed, 
but  have  generally  developed  a  "  soft  spot " — in  other  words, 
are  deficient  in  staying  qualities.  This  single  defect,  we 
have  no  doubt,  will  be  remedied  by  judicious  crossing  ;  and 
we  confidently  predict  that  the  time  is  not  far  distant  when 
these  mares  will  be  almost,  if  not  quite,  as  highly  prized  for 
breeders  as  the  Stars. 

Idol's  colts  are  very  promising ;  and  we  feel  confident 
that,  as  soon  as  they  acquire  sufficient  age,  will  duly  honor 
their  parentage. 

SAYER'S  GUY  MILLER 

This  horse  was  bred  by  Mr.  Richard  Sears,  of  Orange 
County  (now  deceased),  who  lived  on  a  large  farm,  some 
three  miles  south  from  the  Village  of  Goshen,  and  had  given 
much  time  and  attention  to  the  breeding  of  fine  horses,  and 
would  undoubtedly  have  realized  his  highest  anticipations 
could  he  have  lived  to  see  the  progeny  of  Guy  Miller  in  its 
present  stage  of  development.  Sayer's  Guy  Miller  was  foaled 
in  the  spring  of  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-three,  and  was 
purchased  by  Mr.  Daniel  Sayer,  of  Unionville,  O/ange  County, 
N.  Y.,  at  the  public  sale  of  Mr.  Sears's  estate,  in  the  spring 
of  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-five,  for  the  sum  of  eleven 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  This  horse  was  sired  by  Gallo- 
way's Guy  Miller,  and  he  by  Hambletonian.  The  dam  of 
Sayer's  Guy  Miller  was  Sharpless  Abdallah,  by  Old  Abdal- 
lah  ;  grandam,  by  One-Eyed  Hunter,  the  sire  of  Flora  Temple : 
inheriting  the  Messenger  blood  from  both  sire  and 


STUD  BOOK.  23 

dam.  He  took  the  first  premium,  awarded  to  colts  of  his 
class,  for  trotting,  in  Orange  County,  at  the  successive  ages 
of  three,  four,  and  five  years:  he  also  took  the  first  premium 
at  the  Agricultural  Fail',  when  competing  with  some  half- 
dozen  of  the  first  of  Hambletonian's  colts,  as  being  the  best 
stallion  in  Orange  County.  Mr.  Sayer  has  bred  his  horse  to 
a  fine  Harry  Clay  mare  of  his  with  remarkable  success.  He 
sold  her  first  colt,  "Torn  Sayers,"  a  three-year  old,  in  the  fall 
of  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy,  to  Budd  Doble,  for  two 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  at  the  time  of  his  winning  the 
three-year-old  stake  at  Middletown,  in  2m.  and  56s.,  being 
the  same  time  made  by  his  sire  at  the  same  age.  A  like  sum 
has  been  offered  for  her  second  colt,  and  refused.  This  horse 
has  served  mares  only  at  his  owner's  stable,  and  at  the  mod- 
erate price  of  fifty  dollars  to  insure.  He  served,  during  the 
season  of  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-one,  one  hundred 
and  fourteen  mares,  proving  himself  a  sure  foal  getter,  as 
well  as  a  source  of  great  profit  to  his  owner. 

More  fortunately  in  the  horse  than  in  human  kind,  a  noble 
sire  more  certainly  transmits  his  estimable  qualities  to 
his  posterity;  and  while  the  human  kind  may  bask  in  the 
sunshine  of  ancestral  glory,  enjoy  a  secondary  fame  by  keep- 
ing himself  obscured  in  the  paternal  shadow,  or  claim  for 
himself  the  undeserved  merits  of  a  family  name,  and  with 
diplomatic  skill  and  through  artful  devices  bear  off  the  lau- 
rels belonging  to  others,  the  horse  kind,  before  his  claims  to 
celebrity  and  fame  are  considered,  must  produce  the  double 
assurance  of,  first,  his  family  record,  and  secondly,  his  ability 
to  perform  or  surpass  what  his  ancestors  have  done  before 
him.  Without  ascribing  to  ourselves  the  power  to  unveil  the 
future,  even  to  the  extent  of  one  day's  fair  or  foul  weather, 
yet,  with  a  knowledge  of  facts  before  us  concerning  this 
same  Guy  Miller,  his  noble  and  enduring  qualities  and  many 
pouits  of  excellence,  we  predict  for  him,  as  a  getter  of  trot- 
ters, a  position  second  to  none  among  horses,  in  this 
country. 


24  THE  ORANGE  COUNTY 


AMERICAN  STAR. 


Was  a  sorrel  horse,  with  star  and  snip  in  forehead,  two 
white  feet  behind,  above  the  pasterns,  and  about  fifteen 
hands  high. 

PEDIGEEE. 

American  Star  was  sired  by  American  Star,  he  by  Cock 
of  the  Rock,  he  by  Durock,  and  he  by  Romp;  Romp  by  im- 
ported Messenger.  His  dam  was  by  the  racehorse,  Henry; 
grandam  by  Messenger. 

That  his  dam  and  grandam  were  both  thoroughbreds 
there  is  no  doubt.  His  pedigree  we  shall  try  to  prove,  to- 
gether with  his  history.  For  the  last  five  years,  the  pedigree 
of  the  celebrated  horse,  American  Star,  has  been  a  subject  of 
much  controversy,  so  much  so,  that  we  have  taken  much 
time  and  trouble  to  furnish  a  correct  history  of  him.  Tho 
great  value  attaching  to  the  progeny  of  this  horse,  in  the  first 
and  second  generations,  makes  it  of  the  utmost  importance 
that  breeders  should  have  exact  and  reliable  information  as 
to  the  blood  he  possessed.  Fortunately,  in  our  travels 
through  Orange,  Ulster,  and  Columbia  Counties,  in  New 
York,  and  through  a  greater  part  of  New  Jersey,  we  think 
we  shall  be  able,  clearly  and  unmistakably,  to  give  a  correct 
and  reliable  pedigree  and  history  of  the  horse,  American 
Star,  and  supply  every  link  in  the  chain  from  the  day  he  was 
foaled,  the  property  of  Henry  H.  Berry,  Esq.,  of  Pompton 
Plains,  Morris  County,  New  Jersey,  in  June,  eighteen  hun- 
dred and  thirty-seven,  until  he  died,  the  property  of  Theo- 
dore Dusenberry,  of  Goshen,  in  February,  eighteen  hundred 
and  sixty-one.  Henry  H.  Berry  sought  this  horse  while 


STUD   BOOK.  25 

owned  by  Edmond  Seeley  and  Hiram  Smith,  and  recognized 
him  at  once  as  the  same  horse  owned  and  raised  by  him  till 
he  was  seven  years  of  age  This  Mr.  Berry  told  us;  which, 
we  claim,  connects  the  last  link  with  the  first;  and  we  simply 
mention  this  because  Uncle  Edmond  did  not  give  him  the 
same  pedigree.  He  claimed  his  dam  was  a  Canuck,  or  Canada 
mare;  therefore,  some  claimed  he  was  not  the  horse  raised 
by  Mr.  Berry.  His  lasting  qualities,  not  only  with  him, 
but  with  his  progeny,  should  be  a  proof  most  manifest  that 
his  mother  was  no  Canuck  Being  a  personal  friend  of 
Henry  H.  Berry,  we  shall,  as  briefly  as  possible,  give  his  own 
words  as  he  told  us  in  a  conversation  we  had  with  him  on 
this  subject.  In  the  fall  of  eighteen  hundred  and  thirty-four 
Mr.  Berry  was  in  the  City  of  New  York,  and  a  particular 
friend  of  his — Joseph  Genung — urged  him  to  buy  a  very  fine 
mare,  for  breeding  purposes,  that  a  Mend  of  his  owned  on 
Long  Island,  and,  on  account  of  being  badly  used  and  driven 
on  the  hard  roads,  her  feet  had  given  out,  and  she  was  offered 
cheap.  Mr.  Berry  declined  to  buy  her  at  any  price,  as  he 
had  horses  enough. 

Mr.  Genung  said  her  6/00^  made  her  especially  valuable 
for  breeding  purposes,  as  she  was  by  the  race-horse  Henry, 
and  out  of  a  mare  sired  by  Messenger.  The  next  spring, 
Mr.  Berry  was  in  the  city,  and  found  that  his  Mend  Genung 
had  bought  the  mare  himself;  and  when  he  came  to  see  her, 
he  liked  her  so  well  that  he  did  not  hesitate  a  moment  in 
making  her  his  own.  This  was  in  the  spring  of  eighteen 
hundred  and  thirty-five,  and  Mr.  Berry  owned  and  lived  on  a 
large  and  beautiful  farm  on  Pompton  Plains,  New  Jersey. 
At  the  time  he  bought  this  mare,  she  was  a  beautiful  bay 
animal,  somewhat  advanced  in  years,  sixteen  hands  high,  with 
a  star  and  snip  in  forehead,  and  both  hind  feet  white  above 
the  ankles — a  smooth  and  hansome  mare,  with  a  good  set  of 
limbs,  but  bad  feet.  Mr.  Genung  was  a  bachelor,  and 
boarded  many  years  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Berry's  brother,  in 
the  city,  but  died  soon  after  he  sold  this  mare,  and  thus  all 
hopes  of  tracing  her  pedigree  more  definitely  were  cut  of£ 


26  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

That  she  was  by  Henry,  and  a  Mesenger  mare,  there  can- 
not be  a  shadow  of  doubt.  Mr.  Berry  thinks  she  was  a 
thoroughbred.  Mr.  Ira  Coburn,  of  New  York,  owned  a 
horse  called  American  Star.  He  was  a  bay  horse,  with  a  star 
in  forehead,  fifteen  hands  high,  as  round  as  a  rope,  with  a 
good  set  of  limbs,  pleasant  disposition,  and  could  trot  very 
fast;  but  left  no  record,  as  he  was  used  afterwards  only  as 
a  gentleman's  road  horse.  But,  without  getting  ahead  of 
Mr.  Berry's  history,  we  must  give  it  as  we  received  it  from 
him.  This  horse  was  sent  by  Mr.  Coburn,  in  the  spring  of 
eighteen  hundred  and  thirty-five,  to  John  Hiker's  tavern, 
near  Little  Falls,  Passaic  County,  New  Jersey,  in  charge  of 
Nicholas  Smalley,  to  serve  a  limited  number  of  mares.  Mr. 
Berry  bred  this  Henry  mare,  but  she  failed  to  get  in  foal. 
The  next  season,  Mr.  Coburn  sent  the  horse  to  the  same 
place,  but  in  charge  of  another  groom,  who  neglected  and 
treated  him  so  badly  that  Mr.  Biker  sent  word  to  the  owner 
that  he  had  better  take  him  away.  The  advice  was  followed, 
and  the  horse  returned  to  New  York.  Very  naturally,  Mr. 
Coburn  became  heartily  disgusted  with  the  stallion  business, 
and  meeting  Mr.  Berry  a  few  days  afterwards  urged  him  to 
take  the  horse  home  with  him,  breed  him  to  as  many  mares 
as  he  liked,  and  then  castrate  him — an  operation,  at  that 
time,  in  the  whole  country,  performed  only  by  Mr.  Berry. 
This  was  in  eighteen  hundred  and  thirty-six,  that  Mr.  Beny 
took  the  horse  with  him,  bred  him  to  his  Henry  mare,  then 
earned  out  the  instructions  of  his  owner.  This  mare  proved 
in  foal,  and  dropped  this  colt  in  June,  eighteen  hundred  and 
thirty-seven,  which  became  so  famous  in  Orange  County, 
under  the  name  of  his  sire,  American  Star.  Mr.  Berry  says  ho 
was  disappointed  with  his  colt  on  its  first  appearance,  both 
in  color  and  size.  However,  the  colt  received  but  little  care 
or  attention — took  it  as  he  could  catch  it — hardly  ever  under 
a  shelter  until  three  years  of  age,  when  he  was  taken  out  of 
the  barnyard  and  broken  to  harness.  There  was  nothing 
handsome  or  stylish  about  him,  but  he  had  a  great  deal" of 
speed.  Mr.  Berry  ran  him  a  great  many  quarter  and  half- 


STUD   BOOK.  27 

mile  races,  and  never  had  him  beaten.  At  five  years  of  age 
he  served  mares  at  most  any  price,  and  was  driven  to  a 
butcher  wagon.  He  then  began  to  show  a  fine  trotting  step. 
This  was  in  eighteen  hundred  and  forty-two;  and  the  next 
season  he  received  about  the  same  treatment,  and  could  out- 
trot  any  horse  in  the  whole  country,  and  haul  that  butcher- 
wagon  after  him.  Mr.  Berry  often  made  the  remark,  that  he 
had  the  most  bottom  and  best  game  of  any  horse  he  ever  saw. 
In  the  spring  of  eighteen  hundred  and  forty-four,  he  was 
fixed  up  a  little,  and  advertised  to  stand  for  mares  at  New 
Milford  and  Warwick,  Orange  County,  N.  Y.;  to  insure  a 
mare  in  foal  for  seven  dollars;  pedigree  given  in  full;  and 
warranted  to  haul  a  wagon  on  the  road  a  mile  in  three  min- 
utes. From  some  cause  he  served  but  very  few  mares — in 
Warwick,  we  think  not  any.  In  August  of  the  same  season 
(eighteen  hundred  and  forty-four),  Mr.  Berry  sold  him  to 
Mr.  John  Blauvelt,  a  silver-smith  in  New  York  City,  for 
three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  and  a  set  of  single  harness. 
Mr.  Blauvelt  used  him  for  a  road  horse,  and,  as  he  says,  the 
best  he  ever  rode  behind,  for  pluck,  bottom,  and  speed;  but 
the  hard  roads  and  hard  drives  soon  showed  the  weak 
points  of  his  dam — his  feet  giving  out,  and  quartercracks 
making  their  appearance,  he  was  sent  up  to  Mr.  Berry  to  be 
wintered  and  cured.  The  next  spring  he  come  out  all  right; 
but  Mr.  Blauvelt,  apprehending  that  again  the  same  cause 
might  produce  the  same  effect,  traded  him  off  to  Cyrus 
Dubois,  of  Ulster  County,  New  York,  for  a  grey  gelding,  at 
one  time  owned  by  Sheriff  Westbrook  of  that  county.  Du- 
bois had  a  partner,  William  Burr,  a  horseman,  now  of  Ho- 
boken.  What  time  Dubois  owned  him  we  cannot  ascertain; 
but  he  stood  the  horse  a  part  of  the  time  in  Orange  County. 
Dubois  traded  him  to  Jas.  Storm,  of  Hudson,  for  a  bay 
mare;  and  after  a  few  days  Storm  sold  him  to  Walter 
Shafer,  of  Hillsdale,  Columbia  County,  New  York;  who  kept 
him  one  or  two  seasons,  then  sold  him  to  Edmond  Seeley 
and  Hiram  Smith,  of  Goshen,  for  seven  hundred  and  fifty 
doHars.  This  was  in  the  fall  of  eighteen  hundred  and  forty- 


28  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

nine,  and  in  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty  he  stood  for  mares 
in  Goshen,  and  served  fifty-four  mares  and  got  forty-five 
colts,  at  fifteen  dollars  per  colt.  One  of  these  colts  we  well 
remember.  He  was  called  the  Randall  colt;  and,  we  are 
very  credibly  informed,  will  make  a  season  in  this  country 
this  year,  under  the  name  of  his  sire,  American  Star.  He 
has  a  fast  record.  In  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-one,  he 
(old  Star)  made  the  season  in  Goshen,  at  ten  dollars  to  in- 
sure— served  eighty-seven  mares  and  got  sixty-three  colts. 
In  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-two,  at  the  same  place  and 
same  price,  served  ninety-two  mares  and  got  sixty-two  colts. 
In  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-three,  same  place  and  same 
price,  served  forty-nine  mares  and  got  thirty-five  colts. 
That  fall  he  was  taken  to  Elmira,  Chemung  County,  New 
York,  and  trotted  a  race  against  Jupiter.  It  was  a  well  con- 
tested race,  Star  winning  the  sixth  heat  and  race,  in  2 :45. 
In  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-four,  the  next  spring,  he  was 
taken  back  to  Elmira  and  stood  for  mares,  served  twenty  and 
got  fifteen  colts,  at  twenty  dollars  per  colt.  All  these  colts 
were  mare  colts.  A  very  large  majority  of  his  get  were 
mares,  a  fact  often  spoken  of  by  those  who  knew.  In  eight- 
een hundred  and  fifty-five  he  went  to  Piermont,  Rockland 
County,  and  served  fifty  mares  and  got  thirty-five  colts,  at 
twenty  dollars.  In  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-six  he  went 
to  Mandata,  Illinois,  and  served  thirty  mares  and  got  twenty 
colts,  at  twenty  dollars.  In  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty- 
seven  he  again  stood  in  Goshen,  and  served  sixty-four  mares 
and  got  fifty-three  colts,  at  twenty  dollars.  In  eighteen  hun- 
dred and  fifty-eight  he  made  the  season  in  Goshen,  served 
fifty-five  mares  and  got  forty-five  colts,  at  twenty  dollars. 
Up  to  this  time  the  horse  had  been  owned  by  Edmond 
Seeley  and  Hiram  Smith,  but  principally  under  the  control  of 
Uncle  Edmond,  as  we  all  called  him.  In  the  fall  or  winter 
of  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-eight,  Hiram  Smith  having 
found  some  little  fault  with  the  care  and  treatment  the  old 
horse  was  receiving,  Uncle  Edmond  says,  "  Here  is  five  dol- 
lars, which  I  will  give  you  to  say  what  you  will  give  or  take/' 


STUD   BOOK.  29 

The  proposition  was  acceded  to,  and  Uncle  Edmond  became 
sole  owner  of  the  horse,  very  unfortunately  too,  for  him:  for 
could  Hiram  Smith  have  become  sole  owner  of  him3  even  at 
that  time  and  age,  he  would  have  been  a  source  of  great 
profit  to  his  owner,  and  would  have  received  that  care  and 
attention  that  a  horse  of  his  age  most  needs;  for  it  is 
a  fact,  none  could  equal  Hiram  Smith  in  nursing  and  taking 
care  of  a  horse.  Another  reason  why  he  would  have  been  a 
source  of  profit  is,  the  horse  had  just  began  to  be  appreci- 
ated, and  would,  as  we  think,  in  Hiram  Smith's  hands, 
have  served  mares  for  five  years,  and  for  three  of  those 
years  would  have  been  patronized  at  the  snug  sum  of  five 
hundred  dollars  as  the  price  of  service.  As  it  was,  Edmond 
Seeley  owned  him,  and  the  horse  soon  began  to  manifest  he 
had  lost  a  friend.  Uncle  Edmond,  with  all  his  good  social 
qualities,  was  a  poor  owner  for  a  horse,  and  especially  for  a 
horse  of  this  horse's  age.  However,  in  the  spring  of  eight- 
een hundred  and  fifty-nine,  American  Star  stood  for  service 
at  his  owner's  stable  in  Goshen,  at  twenty-five  dollars  to  in- 
sure, and  served  seventy-one  mares  and  got  forty-three  colts. 
In  the  spring  of  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty,  he  again  stood 
in  the  same  stable,  but  with  all  Uncle  Edmond's  ingenuity — 
in  digging  pits  for  mares  to  stand  in — he  failed  to  serve  a 
quarter  of  the  mares  offered;  yet  he  got  ten  colts  at  twenty- 
five  dollars.  The  same  fall,  Uncle  Edmond  gave  him  away 
to  Theodore  Dusenberry,  who  took  him  on  the  farm  of  Hud- 
son Duryea,  near  Goshen,  where,  out  in  a  field,  in  February, 
eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-one,  he  died.  His  last  set  were 
foaled  in  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-one;  and  we  simply 
mention  this  from  the  fact  that  many  are  offering  to  sell  Star 
mares  foaled  in  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-one.  And  that 
none  may  be  deceived,  we  still  state  that  Uncle  Edmond 
owned  and  had  a  colt  sired  by  Star,  called  "Sm  HENRY," 
who  made  the  same  season  at  the  same  stable,  but  at  a  much 
less  price  for  service.  This  may  be  substantiated  by  any 
one  calling  on  John  Smith,  in  Goshen,  who  holds  the  books 
of  the  ten  years'  service  under  Uncle  Edmond  Seeley,  and 


30  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

eight  years  of  the  time  his  father,  Hiram  Smith,  being  a 
partner.  AMERICAN  STAR  passed  through  many  hands,  was 
generally  neglected  and  ill-  treated;  trotted  in  his  day  many 
races,  principally  on  the  road  or  ice,  consequently  left  no  very 
fast  record.  No  horse  ever  lived  that  more  certainly  stamped 
upon  his  offspring  his  own  characteristics  of  gait,  disposition, 
and  bottom,  than  did  American  Star.  Of  his  get,  you  wih1  find 
a  large  percentage  mares;  and  many  of  them  may  be  found 
on  the  breeding  farms  of  Orange  County,  highly  appreciated 
by  their  owners;  and  well  may  be,  for  they  are  the  mothers 
of  the  fastest  trotters  in  the  world. 

Of  his  horse  colts  but  a  few  were  kept  as  stallions.  The 
Randall  colt,  as  he  was  called,  and  we  have  before  spoken  of, 
was  foaled  in  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-one,  is  a  trotter, 
and  a  getter  of  trotters.  Magnolia,  Sir  Henry,  and  Monitor, 
all  good  stallions  by  Star,  have  been  taken  out  of  the  county. 


NOTE  TO  THE  READER. 

The    preceding   matter,  it  will  be  borne   in  mind,  was 
written  in  1871. 


STUD  BOOK.  31 


HISTORY   OF  THE  HORSE. 


CHAPTEE  I 

THE  CHARACTER  OP  THE  HORSE. 

THE  horse  is  now  one  of  the  most  universally  distributed 
animals,  and  everywhere  he  is  recognized  as  the  most  useful 
amongst  the  -quadruped  servants  of  man;  for  in  those  coun- 
tries— some  portions  of  Arabia,  for  instance — in  which  he  is 
admitted  to  the  full  and  unrestricted  companionship  of  man, 
sharing  his  food  with  the  family  of  his  master,  and,  like 
them,  a  dweller  in  the  tent,  his  sagacity  far  surpasses  that  of 
our  stable-reared  horses,  however  affectionately  they  may  be 
treated.  In  the  early  ages  of  the  world  the  horse  seems  to 
have  been  devoted  to  the  purposes  of  war  or  pleasure, 
whilst  the  ox  was  the  agricultural  drudge.  But  the  beauty, 
strength  and  tractability  of  the  horse  have  now  connected 
him,  directly  or  indirectly,  with  almost  all  the  purposes  of 
life.  If  he  differ  in  different  countries  in  form  and  size,  it  is 
from  the  influence  of  climate,  food,  and  cultivation;  but 
otherwise,  from  the  war-horse,  as  he  is  depicted  in  the 
sculptures  of  ancient  temples,  to  the  stately  charger  of  Hoi- 
stein  and  of  Spain,  or  from  the  fleet  and  beautiful  Arabian 
to  the  diminutive  Shetlander,  there  is  an  evident  similarity 
of  form  and  character,  which  clearly  stamps  his  common 
origin. 

As  the  thorough-bred  horse  is  the  source  from  which  all 
the  most  valuable  kinds  are  produced,  not  only  for  racing, 
but  likewise  for  the  pleasurable  engagements  of  hunting, 
riding,  driving,  and  services  of  utility,  the  true  position  in 
which  we  stand  as  regards  the  production,  the  supply  and 
demand  of  these  useful  and  valuable  animals,  cannot,  it  is 
presumed,  fail  to  attract  attention  and  curiosity. 


32  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

Various  opinions  have  recently  been  expressed  concerning 
our  breed  of  horses.  It  has  been  gravely  asserted  that  the 
race-horses  of  the  present  day  have  degenerated  when  com- 
pared with  their  ancestors;  that  the  customs  of  racing  have, 
indeed,  led  to  this  degeneracy,  and  that  they  are  calculated 
to  increase  it;  morever,  that  the  supply  of  horses  for  pur- 
poses of  utility  is  unequal  to  the  demand.  Theories  have 
been  promulgated,  and  suggestions  advanced,  as  to  the  most 
effective  means  of  correcting  these  alleged  evils.  One  gen- 
tleman who  has  written  on  the  subject,  proposes  to  resort  to 
the  Arab  blood  to  regenerate  our  racing  stock,  and  recom- 
mends in  connection  with  that  plan,  the  revival  of  races  at 
long  distances  as  tests  of  stoutness,  to  promote  a  better 
breed  of  horses.  Another  advocates  the  introduction  of 
three-parts  bred  sires  to  produce  horses  for  particular  ser- 
vice. However  well  intended,  they  are  entirely  opposed  to 
improvement,  or  the  attainment  of  the  objects  in  contempla- 
tion. For  the  purpose  of  forming  correct  opinions,  it  is  ne- 
cessary to  consider  each  subject  separately;  and,  as  the 
thorough-bred  sire  is  the  only  parent  stock  from  which  the 
other  valuable  kinds  can  be  produced  with  success,  some  re- 
search into  his  origin,  and  the  lineage  by  which  the  breed 
has  been  perpetuated,  together  with  the  agency — namely, 
racing — by  which  his  repute  has  been  established,  must  ne- 
cessarily form  a  portion  of  these  observations.  Comparing 
the  performance  of  the  ancient  worthies  with  those  of  modern 
times,  it  is  the  only  means  of  deciding  on  the  question  of 
degeneracy.  Bacing  has  been  the  foster-mother  of  the  high- 
bred racer,  it  is  the  test  of  his  breeding,  his  speed,  his  power 
of  endurance,  his  courage,  and  his  stamina. 

In  the  horse — not  perhaps  to  the  same  extent  as  in  the 
dog,  but  still  to  a  great  extent — it  is  our  own  fault  if  we  have 
not  a  friend  as  well  as  a  servant.  "When  well  treated,  he  be- 
comes sincerely  attached  to  us;  the  utmost  of  his  strength 
and  speed  is  at  our  call,  and  he  is  never  happier  than  when 
employed  in  our  service.  He  even  enters  into  many  of  our 
enjoyments  with  as  great  delight  as  we  ourselves.  See 
him  following  the  hounds — there  never  was  a  rider  who  en- 
tered more  thoroughly  into  the  ardor  of  the  chase  than  he 
does. 

So  great  is  the  docility  of  the  horse,  that  he  is  readily 
trained  to  occupations  adverse  to  the  natural  gentleness  of 
his  nature.  With  kind  treatment,  there  is  little  within  the 
comprehension  of  an  animal  which  the  horse  is  not  capable 
pf  attaining;  and  no  animal,  not  even  the  dog,  more  fully 


STUD   BOOK.  33 

comprehends,  or  more  readily  masters,  the  lessons  given  to 
Vnm.  The  astonishing  feats  of  the  horses  of  the  circus  are  an 
additional  exemplification  of  this,  and  their  accomplishments 
are  invariably  the  results  of  the  anxiety  of  the  docile  animals 
to  obey  their  teachers,  who  know  their  business  too  well 
to  make  use  of  any  unnecessary  harshness  towards  their 
pupils. 

In  many  countries  of  modern  times  wild  horses  have  a 
material  influence  on  the  breed. 

There  is  a  great  difference  between  the  wild  horse  of 
Asia  and  that  of  South  America.  The  former,  unless  taken 
young,  can  scarcely  be  tamed;  the  latter  is  remarkable  for 
the  readiness  with  which  he  becomes  domesticated,  and  that 
thoroughly,  as  we  shall  see  when  we  speak  of  the  Australian 
horse.  It  has  been  conjectured  that  this  readiness  to  suc- 
cumb to  man's  rule  is  the  effect  of  climate;  others,  again, 
produce  it  as  an  instance  of  the  improvement  in  the  cerebral 
development  of  the  South  American  horse,  inherited  from 
progenitors  which  have  been  domesticated  for  many  centu- 
ries, and  which  is  no  doubt  the  correct  inference. 

In  a  wild  as  well  as  a  domesticated  state  the  sympathy  of 
horses  for  each  other  is  great.  In  the  thinly-inhabited 
portions  of  South  America  the  custom  in  traveling  is  to 
catch  a  wild  horse  with  the  lasso,  load  him,  and  proceed  a 
reasonable  distance  till  a  fresh  horse  can  be  caught  If  the 
traveler,  on  his  unwilling  steed,  should  fall  in  with  a  troop  of 
wild  horses,  these  will  eagerly  call  to  ther  burdened  com- 
panion to  shake  off  his  load.  He  is  not  long  in  taking 
the  hint;  and  in  such  cases  nothing  but  plenty  of  nerve  and 
strength  on  the  part  of  the  rider,  accompanied  with  a  free 
use  of  the  spur,  will  prevent  the  animal  from  disengaging 
himself  from  his  burden,  and  taking  to  his  heels. 

It  would  be  easy  to  fill  an  entertaining  volume  with  in- 
stances of  the  sagacity  of  the  horse,  were  this  the  place  for 
such  considerations.  His  general  character  may  be  shortly 
summed  up  as  possessing  patience,  willingness,  fidelity,  and 
friendship  in  the  highest  degree,  especially  attaching  him- 
self to  man  when  well  treated;  but  he  will  not,  like  the  dog, 
preserve  those  qualities  under  ill-treatment,  evidently  taking 
it  to  heart,  and  becoming,  in  consequence,  stupid,  spiritless, 
and  generally  of  little  value.  He  who  would  ill-use  this 
noble  animal,  not  only  acts  against  his  own  interest  but 
degrades  himself  far  below  the  condition  of  his  victim.  An 
unmerciful  man  to  his  horse  should,  by  common  consent, 
be  a  marked  man.  Any  show  of  good  qualities  which  such 


34  THE    ORANGE    COUNTY 

a  man  may  pretend  to  is  mere  hypocrisy.  Let  all  men  shun 
him. 

The  horse  is  one  of  the  most  important  acquisitions  made 
by  man  from  the  animal  kingdom.  Without  him  civilization 
would  have  made  little  progress,  and  European  nations  would 
have  been,  even  now,  scarcely  emerged  from  barbarism.  Agri- 
culture, commerce,  our  luxuries  and  pleasures,  are  alike  in- 
debted to  this  noble  animal,  whose  form  and  sagacity  would 
appear  to  have  been  adapted  by  Providence  to  the  service  of 
man;  and  such  is  his  pliability  of  physical  structure  and 
constitution,  that  man  may  mold  him  to  the  form  and  bulk 
best  fitted  for  the  particular  service  in  which  he  is  to  be  ein- 
•loyed,  whether  as  the  symmetrical  racer,  or  as  the  heavy 

ught-horse. 

The  principal  locality  of  wild  horses  exists  in  South 
America,  where  they  herd  in  countless  numbers  in  the  plains 
extending  from  La  Plata  to  Patagonia.  These  were  originally 
introduced  by  the  Spaniards,  and  have  increased  with  in- 
credible rapidity  ;  so  much  so,  that  by  some  travelers  their 
single  troops  are  numbered  by  tens  of  thousands.  The  color 
of  the  South  American  wild  horse  is  generally  chestnut,  bay, 
sorrel,  or  black,  and  they  are  destined  to  exercise  a  great  in- 
fluence on  the  newly-sprung  countries  of  the  Pacific,  into 
which  they  are  chiefly  introduced  from  the  ports  of  Chili  and 
Peru, 

When  the  Spaniards  first  landed  in  Mexico,  their  horses 
were  objects  of  wonder,  and  they  impressed  the  inhabitants 
with  the  idea  that  horse  and  rider  wer3  one  animal  of  the  Cen- 
taur species. 

The  horse  is  eaten  in  some  parts  of  South  America,  espe- 
cially in  the  southern  portions,  and  its  flesh  is  esteemed  a 
great  delicacy.  Horseflesh  is  amongst  these  people  consid- 
ered as  necessary  at  the  festive  board,  as  is  the  sirloin  of 
beef  amongst  ourselves. 

FOREIGN  BREEDS  OF  HORSES. 

And  first  of  these  stands  the  Arabian — a  vague  term,  the 
breed  of  horses  being  as  diverse  as  the  districts  on  which 
they  have  been  reared.  Generally  speaking,  we  attach  more 
value  to  these  horses  than  they  really  possess.  Arabia  is  tho 
land  of  romance  to  Europeans,  and  its  horses  have  lost  noth- 
ing by  romantic  associations.  With  the  exception  of  the 
head,  the  majority  of  Arabian  horses  would  scarcely  pass 
muster — at  any  rate,  not  as  first-rate  horses.  They  are,  for 


STUD   BOOK.  35 

the  most  part,  deficient  in  height,  and  very  light  in  the  body. 
Their  powers  of  endurance  are,  however,  great.  We  once 
experienced  great  pain  in  sitting  behind  four  of  them  across 
the  Egyptian  desert,  over  which  they  took  us  in  about  fifteen 
hours,  including  of  course  long  stoppages,  as  were  requisite. 
We  remonstrated  with  the  driver  that  the  horses  were  not 
changed,  and  the  reply  was,  that  there  were  none  to  change. 
He,  however,  asserted  that  they  would  be  none  the  worse  for 
it,  and  to  judge  by  the  appearance  of  the  am' mala  on  reach- 
ing Cairo,  we  were  of  the  same  opinion. 

By  far  the  most  beautiful  variety  of  the  Arab  horse  is 
the  Barb,  as  he  is  called  from  his  having  been  brought 
from  Barbary.  The  Barb  is,  however,  small,  rarely  ex- 
ceeding fourteen  hands,  and  is  thus  considerably  less  than 
the  Bedouin  horse  of  North  and  East  Arabia.  This  breed  of 
horses  was  introduced  long  ago  into  England  ;  the  celebrated 
Godolphin  Arabian,  so  called,  was  supposed  to  be  a  Barb. 
It  is  to  this  breed  that  Spanish  horses  owe  their  fire  and 
beauty,  and  most  of  the  best  English  race-horses  have  the 
blood  of  the  Barb  in  their  veins.  It  is,  however,  remarkable 
that,  considering  the  lavish  expenditure  on  improving  the 
breed  of  English  horses,  no  attempts  have  been  made  to  pro- 
cure any  of  the  mares  of  the  highest  Arabian  stock.  We  ap- 
pear to  have  placed  the  chief  dependence  on  the  Arab  stal- 
lion, though  it  is  well-known  to  Oriental  breeders  that  the 
mare  is  of  by  far  the  greater  importance.  Some  authors  say 
that  the  Arabs  will  not  part  with  any  of  their  finest  mares. 
This  is,  however,  an  error  ;  there  is  little  that  an  Arab  will 
not  part  with  for  money. 

The  Arab  horse  bears  a  high  character  for  his  docility 
and  sagacity,  and  it  would  be  strange  if  he  did  not  possess 
both  qualities.  He  is  brought  up  in  his  owner's  tent,  and 
literally  with  his  family.  In  the  absence  of  any  other  amuse- 
ment, the  education  of  the  foal  is  a  primary  object  He  is 
invariably  kindly  treated,  and  soon  acquires  a  desire  to  please 
his  biped  companions,  and  to  take  a  pride  in  executing  all 
they  require  of  him.  The  constant  companion  of  man,  he 
soon  learns  to  imitate  man  in  every  particular  of  which  he  is 
capable.  Any  horse  placed  in  the  same  position  would  ac- 
quire the  same  qualities.  It  is  said  of  the  Arab  horse  that  if 
its  rider  fall,  and  be  too  much  injured  to  rise,  the  steed  will 
stand  still,  and  neigh  till  assistance  arrives.  If  he  lie  down 
to  sleep,  his  horse  will  watch  over  him,  and  rouse  him  at 
the  approach  of  man  or  beast. 

The  dry  air  and  sands  of  Arabia  are  well  adapted  to  pro- 


36  THE   CHANGE   COUNTY 

cluce  muscular  fibre,  but  no  superfluous  fat.  The  Arab  is  as 
lean  as  his  steed,  and  the  enduring  power  of  both  is  wonder- 
ful. Fatigue,  privations,  and  thirst,  are  the  lot  of  both,  and 
their  country  makes  them  what  they  are,  i.  e.  adapted  to  the 
climate. 

The  skin  of  light-colored  Arabians  is  either  pure  black,  or 
blueish-black,  and  this  gives  them  the  silvery-gray  color  so 
much  esteemed.  Bay  and  chestnut  are  common,  and  are 
considered  good  colors.  Horses  of  a  dark-gray  color  are  not 
so  much  esteemed  as  runners. 

But  there  are  in  fact  many  breeds  of  horses  in  Arabia. 
In  Egypt  alone  they  reckon  five,  the  least  of  which  can 
scarcely  be  classed  above  the  rank  of  ponies,  the  hardiness 
and  speed  of  which  is  surprising,  though  laboring  under 
every  possible  disadvantage  but  that  of  kind  treatment. 

As  our  space  will  not  permit  us  to  enter  into  these  varie- 
ties, we  will  notice  the  noble  breed  only,  which  is  thus  des- 
cribed by  Count  Kzeiousky  : 

"  Above  all  the  horses  in  the  world,  the  Kohlan  is  dis- 
tinguished for  the  goodness  of  his  qualities  and  the  beauty  of 
his  form.  An  uncommon  mildness  of  temper  ;  an  unaltera- 
ble faithfulness  to  his  master ;  a  courage  and  intrepidity  as 
astonishing  as  they  are  innate  in  his  noble  breast ;  an  unfail- 
ing remembrance  of  the  places  where  he  has  been — of  the 
treatment  he  has  received  ;  not  to  be  led,  not  to  be  touched 
but  by  his  master." 

The  Arab  horse  is  not  gorged  with  large  quantities  of 
food  as  our  horses  are.  In  spring  they  are  turned  out  to 
pasture,  when  pasture  is  available  ;  in  the  desert  it  is  out  of 
the  question.  At  other  periods  of  the  year  their  day's  pro- 
vender does  not  exceed  five  or  six  pounds  of  barley,  with 
sometimes  a  little  cut  straw,  and  on  this  they  can  sustain 
great  fatigue  and  exertion.  The  Arabs  give  them  a  very 
small  quantity  of  drink  two  or  three  times  a  day,  judging 
that  an  unlimited  supply  of  water  would  not  only  destroy 
their  shape  but  effect  their  breathing  also. 

The  Bedouin  Arabs  are  great  horse-breeders,  and  produce 
some  first-rate  animals.  The  skill  of  these  people  as  breed- 
ers is  unsurpassed  in  any  country,  and  their  accumulated  ex- 
perience is  handed  down  from  father  to  son  by  oral  tradition, 
never  by  written  rules. 

,  The  genealogy  of  the  horse  is  reckoned  from  the  mother  ; 
and  the  Arabs  are  as  particular  in  their  pedigree  of  the  no- 
ble breeds  of  horses  as  in  that  of  their  chiefs.  It  is  an  un- 
doubted fact  they  have  pedigrees  amongst  them  of  not  less 


STUD   BOOK.  37 

than  five  hundred  years,  with  the  succession  distinctly  traced. 
In  the  case  of  these  horses,  it  is  necessary  for  the  chiefs  to 
attest  the  coition  of  the  animals,  and  also  to  certify  the  birth 
of  the  foal  If  either  of  these  prescribed  formalities  havo 
not  been  attended  to,  the  colt,  however,  good  his  points,  has 
lost  caste,  and  will  never  bring  a  good  price,  or  be  consid- 
ered of  "value,  however  fine  may  be  his  action. 

THE  ABYSSINIAN  HOUSE. 

Upper  Egypt  produces  horses  of  much  larger  stature  than 
the  Arab — or  rather  we  should  have  said  Abyssinia,  for  the 
original  stock  is  from  the  deserts  of  the  latter  country.  They 
possess  great  speed,  and  can  endure  almost  any  amount  of 
fatigue,  the  universal  characteristic  of  the  Oriental  horse. 
Some  of  these  have  been  imported  into  England,  but  do  not 
seem  to  have  answered  the  expectations  of  their  importers, 
and  for  the  usual  reason — stallions  were  imported  instead  of 
mares. 

"What  figure,"  says  Bruce,  "these  horses  would  make  in 
point  of  fleetness,  is  very  doubtful,  their  make  being  so 
entirely  different  from  that  of  the  Arabian;  but  if  beautiful 
and  symmetrical  parts, 'large  size,  strength,  and  most  agile, 
nervous,  and  elastic  movements,  great  endurance  of  fatigue,, 
docility  of  temper,  and  seeming  attachment  to  man  beyond 
any  other  domestic  animal,  can  promise  anything,  these 
horses  are,  above  all  comparison,  the  most  eligible  in  the 
world." 

THH!  BAKB. 

Is  not  properly  an  Arab  horse,  but  a  race  nearly  allied. 
They  are  supposed  to  have  been  produced  by  a  cross  with 
Algerine  horses,  these  being  a  cross  with  a  south  European 
breed  and  the  Arab.  They  are  often  larger  than  the  Arab, 
with  fine  heads  and  crests,  well  formed  about  the  shoulder, 
with  straight  backs,  drooping  considerably  towards  the 
haunches.  They  are  remarkably  swift. 

These  horses  are  seldom  kept  in  stables,  but  are  pick- 
eted to  the  ground.  They  are  watered  and  fed  only  once  a 
day,  the  former  at  one  o'clock,  and  the  latter  at  sunset.  The 
mode  of  cleaning  the  horse  is  to  plunge  him  in  a  river  two 
or  three  times  a  week,  and  allow  him  to  dry  without  being 
rubbed  down. 

The  superiority  of  some  of  these  horses  has  been  proved 
in  England;  the  Godolphin  Arabian,  as  already  stated,  was 


88  THE    ORANGE   COUNTY 

supposed  to  be  a  Barb,  and  contributed  more  to  the  improve- 
ment of  our  racers  than  any  other  foreign  horse  before  or 
since. 

THE  AUSTRALIAN   HORSE. 

At  first,  horses  were  exclusively  imported  from  England, 
but  they  were  found  rapidly  to  degenerate.  The  coasts  of 
Chili  and  Peru  were  then  tried  for  mares,  and  this  step  was 
followed  by  the  production  of  a  breed  admirably  suited  to 
the  country.  Surefootedness  and  endurance  are  now  emi- 
nently the  characteristics  of  the  Australian  horses,  and  their 
sagacity  probably  exceeds  that  of  all  other  breeds.  It  is 
wonderful  to  see  an  Australian  stockman  at  full  speed  after 
a  drove  of  wild  cattle,  amidst  a  mass  of  forest  of  which 
neither  he  nor  his  horse  have  the  slightest  knowledge.  The 
ground  beneath  his  feet  is  full  of  yawning  chasms  in  the 
earth,  caused  by  the  dryness  of  the  climate,  whilst  the  over- 
hanging branches  threaten  him  every  moment  with  such 
blows  on  the  head,  as,  if  not  avoided,  would  speedily  put  an 
end  to  his  horsemanship.  Under  these  circumstances,  there 
seems  to  be  a  compact  between  horse  and  rider,  that  the 
horse  shall  look  at  all  dangers  beneath  his  feet,  whilst  the 
rider  ducks  between  the  overhanging  branches;  and  between 
them  they  perform  feats  which  few  steeple-chasers  \vould 
face,  though  accidents  are  very  rare. 

A  similar,  and  perhaps  a  still  better,  breed  is  rapidly 
being  introduced  into  New  Zealand,  The  breeding  stock  is 
the  same,  but  from  the  greater  favorableness  of  the  climate, 
it  is  probable  that  this  country  will  produce  one  of  the  finest 
breeds  of  horses  in  the  world. 

We  have  often  witnessed  the  process  of  these  persons  in 
breaking  the  wild  horse  as  he  finds  a  purchaser  from  the 
ship.  As  it  is  curious,  and  may  afford  hints  to  English 
horse-breakers,  we  will  describe  it.  A  post  is  firmly  fixed  in 
the  ground,  to  which  a  ring  is  attached.  The  horse  is  then 
brought  to  the  post  with  a  long  halter,  and  made  fast.  The 
breaker  takes  his  poncho — a  large  cloak  worn  by  the  South 
Americans — and  ties  it  round  the  eyes  of  the  horse,  so  as  to 
blindfold  him.  The  animal  is  then  left  to  himself,  and 
shortly  begins  to  tremble  with  fright  at  his  unusual  helpless 
position.  A  profuse  perspiration  breaks  out  upon  him,  and 
if  suffered  to  continue  thus,  ho  falls  from  the  exhaustion  of 
the  nervous  system  caused  by  his  fright.  Before  this  takes 
place,  a  rude  saddle  is  placed  on  his  back,  heavily  weighted 
at  the  stirrups,  and  to  this  he  quietly  submits.  Presently, 


STUD  BOOK.  89 

when  the  animal  is  stupefied,  the  breaker  goes  up  to  him,  and 
patting  his  neck  and  otherwise  caressing  him,  in  some 
respects  soothes  him,  and  this  goes  on  till  the  horse  exhibits 
signs  of  reliance  on  the  breaker.  By-and-by  the  poncho  is 
removed,  and  the  lesson  wished  to  be  imparted  has  been 
learned,  viz.,  that  of  looking  on  man,  who  has  relieved  him 
from  the  fearful  poncho,  as  his  friend. 

We  have  seen  this  lesson  so  skillfully  administered  that 
ihe  breaker  has  removed  the  weighted  stirrups,  and  mounted 
on  the  bare  back  of  the  horse,  which  behaved  with  per- 
fect docility.  More  generally,  however,  the  lesson — always 
the  same — has  to  be  repeated,  till  the  horse  becomes  perfectly 
docile,  having  learned  to  rely  on  man.  And  if  afterwards 
kindly  treated,  there  are  no  more  docile  horses  to  be  found 
than  these  recently  wild  horses. 

'|IHH;    Tl  I KTTTSTT    HOBSE» 

The  only  remaining  Oriental  horse  worthy  of  notice  is 
the  Turkish  horse.  These  are  principally  descended  from 
those  of  Arabia,  Persia  and  Barbary.  Their  bodies  are  long, 
and  their  cruppers  elevated;  their  foreheads  are  slender,  and 
they  carry  their  heads  higher  than  the  Arabian.  They  pos- 
sess much  fire  and  spirit,  are  extremely  active,  and  are  ad- 
mirably fitted  for  the  operations  of  Turkish  cavalry.  They 
are  very  affectionate,  evincing  great  regard  for  their  masters 
and  the  attendant  grooms. 

The  Turks  never  strike  their  horses,  and  the  animals,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  never  bite  nor  turn  restive,  their  gentleness 
and  obedience  being  perfect  The  Turks  take  a  pride  in 
their  horses,  even  beyond  the  Arab;  and  much  as  we  have  all 
read  of  Turkish  ferocity,  these  people  are,  par  excellence, 
the  most  kindhearted  of  the  human  race.  They  caress  their 
horses  with  almost  as  much  affection  as  their  offspring,  and 
their  children  are  taught  to  treat  them  with  equal  gentle- 
ness. They  especially  delight  to  teach  their  horses  all  kinds 
of  entertaining  and  useful  tricks,  amongst  which  they  will 
pick  up  a  stick  or  scimitar  from  the  ground,  and  lift  it  to  the 
rider.  When  a  horse  has  learned  this  feat  his  nose  is 
adorned  with  a  silver  ring,  as  a  badge  of  his  proficiency. 

Many  Turkish  horses  have  at  various  times  been  intro- 
duced into  Britain  with  good  success,  and  have  become  the 
sires  of  fine  horses. 

In  the  preceding  notice  of  horses,  our  aim  has  been  to 
give  such  of  their  characteristics  as  may  be  suggestive  rather 


40  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

than  amusing  to  the  farmer,  who  may  derive  therefrom  many 
hints  as  to  the  treatment  of  his  breeding-stock. 

THE  DUTCH  HORSE. 

The  Dutch  horse  is  large,  but  his  action,  though  slow,  is 
steady  and  agreeable. 

The  Flemish  horses,  though  as  large  as  the  Dutch,  are 
inferior,  their  heads  being  uncouth,  and  their  feet  large  and 
flat.  They  are  subject  to  watery  humors  in  the  legs,  and 
swellings  in  the  heels.  This  arises  from  the  low,  rank  pas- 
tures on  which  they  are  fed — these  producing  rank  grass, 
forming  adipose  and  cellular  substance,  and  rendering  the 
muscular  fibre  soft  From  the  many  hints  of  this  nature 
thrown  out  in  the  present  treatise,  the  farmer  will  be  at  no 
loss  to  perceive  the  influence  of  pasture  on  breed. 

THE   DANISH    HORSE. 

These  are  generally  about  fifteen  hands  high — lean, 
hardy,  and  capable  of  drawing  great  weights,  being  more  re- 
markable for  this  than  for  speed. 

A  notice  of  the  system  pursued  in  the  Danish  royal 
stables  may  not  be  without  its  use.  The  floor  is  laid  with 
rough  stones,  on  an  inclined  plane,  and  is  so  laid  to  prevent 
lameness,  which  frequently  occurs  when  horses  are  allowed 
to  stand  in  their  unmoved  litter.  The  mangers  are  semicir- 
cular, and  are  high  ;  the  cribs  are  of  iron. 

THE   SWEDISH   HORSE. 

These  nearly  resemble  Scotch  ponies,  strong-built,  clean, 
neat,  hardy  little  animals,  better  adapted,  from  their  small 
size,  for  the  road,  rather  than  for  draught.  On  a  journey 
they  rarely  tire,  and  from  the  firmness  of  the  hoofs,  as 
seldom  stumble,  whilst  swelled  legs  and  greasy  heels  are 
unknown  amongst  them.  Their  size  is  from  thirteen  hands 
upwards,  and  they  are  stout  in  their  make. 

Besides  these  is  the  sledge-horse,  of  larger  size  and  thin- 
ner make.  These  are  almost  exclusively  employed  in  draw- 
ing sledges,  and  the  speed  with  which  they  trot  with  these  is 
remarkable,  going  at  the  rate  of  eighteen  miles  in  an  hour. 
At  Gottenburg  there  are  annual  races,  not  for  galloping,  but 
for  sledge-trotting.  The  fleetest  of  these  trotting  horses  fre- 
quently sell  for  five  hundred  dollars  each.  Mr.  "Wilson  states 
that  the  Swedish  horses  are  only  shod  in  the  fore-feet 


STtID  BOOK.  41 

The  Finland  horses  are  smaller  than  the  Swedish,  seldom 
more  than  twelve  hands,  but  finely  formed,  fleet,  and  good  in 
their  paces,  trotting  twelve  miles  an  hour  with  ease. 

The  Norwegian  horses  are  larger  than  the  Swedish,  and 
are  very  hardy,  and  remarkably  sure-footed,  as  would  be  the 
case  from  the  hilly  nature  of  the  country. 

The  Eussian  horse  scarcely  merits  a  separate  notice,  the 
ordinary  breed  being  only  distinguished  for  its  ugliness,  to- 
wajjfls  which  its  woolly  hair  in  no  slight  degree  contributes. 
They  are  hardy,  patient,  and  bold. 


42  THE   OKANGE   COUNTY 


CHAPTER  H. 

HISTORY   OF   THE   ENGLISH   HOUSES. 

THAT  horses  were  introduced  into  Britain  long  before  the 
Christian  era,  we  have  abundant  evidence,  and  that  the  inha- 
bitants had  acquired  great  expertness  in  their  use  is  equally 
certain. 

During  the  occupation  of  England  by  the  Romans,  the 
British  horse  was  crossed  to  a  considerable  extent  by  the 
Roman  horse,  and  yet,  strange  to  say,  no  opinion  is  given  by 
any  historian,  Roman  or  British,  as  to  the  effect  of  this.  Af- 
ter the  evacuation  of  England  by  the  Romans,  and  its  con- 
quest by  the  Saxons,  considerable  attention  was  paid  to  the 
English  breed  of  horses  ;  and  we  know  that  after  the  death 
of  Alfred,  and  under  the  reign  of  Athelstan,  several  running 
horses  were  imported  from  Germany  :  this  being  the  first 
historical  intimation  we  have  of  running  horses  in  England. 

"William  the  Conquerer  took  great  pains  to  improve  the 
English  breed,  introducing  many  fine  steeds  from  Normandy, 
Flanders,  and  Spain.  This  monarch  owed  his  success  at 
Hastings  chiefly  to  his  cavalry;  his  own  horse  was  a  Spanish 
one.  In  this  reign  we  have  the  first  notice  of  horses  being 
employed  in  agriculture.  They  had  been  used  for  the  saddle 
for  many  centuries. 

The  English  had  now  become  sensible  of  the  value  and 
breed  of  their  horses,  and  in  the  twelfth  century  a  regular 
race-course  had  been  established  in  London;  this  being  none 
other  than  Smithfield,  which  was  at  once  horse-market  and 
race-course.  Fitzstephen,  who  lived  at  that  period,  gives  the 
following  account  of  the  contests  between  the  palfreys  of  the 
day: 

"  When  a  race  is  to  be  run  by  horses,  which  in  their  kind 
are  strong  and  fleet,  a  shout  is  raised,  and  common  horses 
are  ordered  to  withdraw  from  without  the  way.  Two  jockeys 
then,  or  sometimes  three,  as  the  match  may  be  made,  prepare 
themselves  for  the  contest,  such  as  are  used  to  ride,  and 
know  how  to  manage  their  horses  with  judgment,  the  grand 
point  being  to  prevent  a  competitor  from  getting  before 
them.  The  horses  on  their  part  are  not  without  emulation. 
They  tremble  and  are  impatient,  and  continually  in  motion. 
At  last,  the  signal  once  given,  they  hurry  along  with  unremit- 


STUD   BOOK.  43 

ting  velocity;  the  jockeys,  inspired  with  the  thoughts  of 
applause  and  the  hopes  of  victory,  clapping  spurs  to  their 
willing  steeds,  brandishing  their  whips,  and  cheering  them 
with  their  cries." 

This  is  a  quaint  and  amusing  picture  of  the  dawning 
spirit  of  horse-racing.  Crossing  was  evidently  an  acknowl- 
edged accomplishment,  and  personal  flagellations  between 
competing  jockeys  not  unfrequently  resulted  from  excess  of 
emulation.  Fertile  indeed  must  have  been  their  imagin- 
ations if  they  dreamed  that  their  racing  frolics  would,  in 
process  of  time,  grow  into  an  important  national  speculation; 
much  less  could  they  have  anticipated  that  their  unsophisti- 
cated pastimes  were  the  embryo  of  that  fame  which  has  been 
acquired  by  England  through  the  medium  of  the  race-horse. 

This  description,  with  the  exception  of  the  cries,  might 
have  formed  part  of  the  record  of  a  modern  race  at  Epsom 
in  the  columns  of  a  morning  paper;  so  national  is  the  English 
sport  of  horse-racing,  and  so  unchanged  are  its  characteris- 
tics in  all  but  the  existing  gambling  system,  which  has  been 
incorporated  with  the  efforts  of  the  noble  animal  to  reach  the 
goal  iirst. 

The  Crusades  now  followed;  yet,  though  the  opportuni- 
ties of  improving  the  English  breed  was  necessarily  great, 
from  the  facilities  with  which  the  finest  Oriental  horses  might 
have  been  obtained,  no  advantage  seems  to  have  been  taken 
of  them.  A  gloomy  and  superstitious  fanaticism  solely 
occupied  the  minds  of  the  warriors,  and  to  this  all  useful 
purposes  were  sacrificed;  the  English  horses  were  none  the 
better  for  their  experience,  though  they  must  frequently  have 
felt  the  superiority  of  the  Oriental  breed  in  actual  warfare. 

King  John  paid  great  attention  to  the  improvement  of 
horses  for  agricultural  purposes,  and  to  him  we  are  indebted 
for  the  origin  of  our  (fraught-horses.  He  chiefly  imported 
Flemish  horses,  and  such  was  his  anxiety  to  possess  the  finest 
stock  from  these,  that  he  would  accept  strong  horses  as  rent 
for  Crown  lands,  and  as  fines  for  the  renewal  of  leases.  His 
personal  stud  was  both  numerous  and  excellent 

Edward  HL  was  the  first  among  our  monarchs  who 
thought  the  subject  worthy  of  serious  attention.  He  was  a 
zealous  patron  of  the  course,  and  in  his  reign  English  horse- 
breeders  began  to  cross  the  heavy  native  breed  with  horses  of 
a  lighter  structure  and  greater  speed.  The  king  himself 
purchased  a  considerable  number  of  Spanish  horses,  the  off- 
spring of  the  Arabs,  which  had  been  introduced  into  their 
country  by  the  Moors.  The  effort  was  eminently  successful. 


44  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

for  the  English  horse  soon  began  to  be  valued  in  other  coun- 
tries, and  its  exportation  from  our  own  shores  was  prohibited 
under  considerable  penalties. 

Such  was  the  importance  which  this  monarch  attached  to 
the  Spanish  breed,  that  he  gave  a  thousand  marks  for  fifty 
horses,  negotiating  at  the  same  time  with  the  kings  of  France 
and  Spain  for  their  safe  passage  by  land.  They  all  arrived 
safely,  at  a  cost  of  thirteen  pounds,  six  shillings  and  eight- 
pence  each;  equal  to  a  hundred  and  sixty  pounds  of  modern 
money.  Edward  was  also  an  eminent  example  to  many  stud- 
owners  in  our  day,  viz.,  by  going  deeply  in  debt  for  his 
horses;  he  having  been  at  one  time  indebted  to  the  Count  of 
Hainault  in  no  less  a  sum  than  twenty-five  thousand  pounds. 
The  price  of  a  running  horse  in  his  day  was  three  pounds  six 
shillings  and  eightpence — though  we  scarcely  know  what  was 
the  true  meaning  of  a  running  horse — probably  a  hackney. 
Edward  was  very  jealous  as  to  the  quality  of  English 
horses.  A  German  dealer  had  imported  some  which  did  not 
come  up  to  the  monarch's  standard,  and  yet  he  would  not 
allow  him  to  re-export  them,  without  a  stipulation  that  he 
would  not  take  them  to  Scotland ! 

Richard  H.  and  the  Henries  were  equally  anxious  for  the 
further  improvement  of  the  breed  of  English  horses. 

Kaces  were  now  regularly  established  in  various  parts  of 
the  kingdom,  and  their  regulation  became  a  favorite  object 
with  the  higher  classes,  as  the  race  itself  was  the  favorite  re- 
creation of  the  common  people.  The  earliest  among  the 
regularly  established  race-courses  were  at  Chester  and  Stam- 
ford. But  there  was,  at  that  time,  no  recognized  breed  of 
running  horses;  all  sorts  were  mingled  together,  none  being 
excluded.  It  was  not  until  the  last  year  of  James  I,  that 
rules  and  regulations  as  to  the  quality  of  the  horses  per- 
mitted to  enter  were  established,  and  from  that  period  may 
date  the  commencement  of  the  present  system  of  racing. 

In  the  reign  of  Henry  VII.  horses  had  become  so  numer- 
ous as  to  be  pastured  over  the  waste  lands  by  the  common 
people.  Exportation  was  still  forbidden,  except  in  the  case 
of  mares.  In  the  reign  of  Henry  VHL  much  attention  was 
given  to  breeding  powerful  horses,  and  statutes  were  enacted 
which  fixed  the  proportions  of  size  and  mold  of  horses  and 
mares  which  should  be  bred  from.  The  thirty-second  of 
Henry  Yin.  enacts,  that  no  person  shall,  upon  any  common 
or  waste,  keep  a  stallion  under  fifteen  hands;  and  if  that  any 
person  find  such  a  horse,  he  may,  on  satisfying  the  constable 
of  the  next  town  that  the  horse  is  under  standard,  keep  him 


STUD   BOOK.  45 

for  his  own  use.  Such  foals,  fillies,  Or  mares,  as  were  not 
considered  able  to  bear  foals  of  reasonable  stature  were,  by 
the  same  act,  to  be  killed  and  buried. 

There  is  no  doubt  but  that  these  statutes,  harsh  as  they 
were,  laid  the  foundation  of  the  excellent  breeds  now  com- 
mon .  in  England.  Henry  VHL  was  every  inch  a  horseman, 
and  he  delighted  especially  in  everything  regarding  the 
noble  animaL  He  compelled  the  nobility,  gentry,  and 
high^I-  orders  of  the  clergy,  to  keep  a  number  of  horses  in 
proportion  to  their  rank.  During  the  reign  of  Henry  "VHI. 
an  annual  race  was  run  at  Chester,  but  the  year  when  it  first 
took  place  is  not  known. 

In  the  reign  of  Edward  VI.  horse  statutes  became  actu- 
ally ferocious.  To  steal  a  horse  was  visited  with  death  with- 
out privilege  of  clergy. 

To  James  I.  the  improvement  of  English  horses  owes 
much,  for  it  was  he  who  first  ventured  upon  that  grand  im- 
provement in  breeding,  the  introduction  of  horses  from  east- 
ern countries,  from  which  the  fame  of  their  horses  had  gone 
forth  from  time  immemorial  He  purchased  an  Arabian 
horse  from  a  merchant  named  Markham,  and  gave  for  it  the 
enormous  price,  according  to  the  value  of  money  at  that 
period,  of  £500.  This  horse,  however,  on  trial,  was  found  defi- 
cient in  speed,  and  the  Duke  of  Newcastle,  who  then  man- 
aged the  sporting  affairs  of  the  king,  took  a  dislike  to  the 
horse  on  this  account;  no  one  had  sufficient  courage  to 
demand  that  his  breed  should  be  put  to  the  test;  and  for  the 
greater  part  of  a  century,  the  Arabian  breed  sank  into  dis- 
use, and  almost  into  contempt. 

The  only  annual  race  established  prior  to  the  reign  of 
James  I.  was  that  at  Chester;  meetings  were  now  held  in 
Yorkshire,  at  Newmarket,  at  Croydon,  and  at  Theobald's, 
on  Enfield  Chase.  Training  the  horses  came  into  vogue, 
a  ceremony  which  no  doubt  created  intense  interest  with 
those  who  engaged  in  the  pursuit.  The  practice  of  weigh- 
ing the  jockeys  was  also  adopted,  and  the  pedigrees  of  the 
horses  which  acquired  fame  became  a  subject  of  attention, 
an  example  in  all  probability  borrowed  from .  the  Arabs. 
Those  which  gave  proof  of  superior  speed  were  selected  to 
breed  from,  and  the  produce  was  devoted  principally  to 
racing.  The  genealogy  of  our  present  stock  cannot  be  traced 
to  so  early  a  date,  yet  it  is  probable  some  of  that  blood  was 
continued  in  strains  which  will  be  hereafter  noticed. 

During  the  protectorate  of  Cromwell,  a  southeastern 
horse,  the  beautiful  WHITE  TUKE,  was  introduced.  The  ad- 


46  THE   CHANGE    COUNTY 

vantages  of  the  breed  again  became  perceptible,  and  he  was 
soon  followed  by  the  Helmsley  Turk,  the  Morocco  barb,  and 
by  a  variety  of  horses  of  similar  descent.  Thus,  a  beauty  of 
form,  and  a  degree  of  speed  and  stoutness,  to  which  an  ap- 
proach had  scarcely  been  observed  in  the  original  breeds, 
was  obtained. 

On  the  Restoration,  Charles  II.  gave  every  possible  en- 
couragement to  horsemanship.  He  established,  races  on 
Datchet  Mead,  and  often  attended  the  newly-established 
course  at  Newmarket,  entering  his  own  horses.  The  racing 
cup  was  now  substituted  for  the  bell,  the  old  prize,  and  the 
example  of  the  king  raised  the  course  to  a  splendor  before 
unknown. 

This  king,  to  whom  we  are  in  a  great  measure  indebted 
for  the  introduction  of  the  present  strains  of  foreign  blood, 
sent  his  master  of  the  horse  abroad  to  procure  a  number  of 
foreign  horses  and  mares;  the  latter,  which  were  brought 
over  by  him,  were  called  the  royal  mares,  from  one  of  which 
in  the  maternal  line  the  genealogy  of  Eclipse  is  traced.  The 
pedigree  of  his  sire,  Marske,  is  somewhat  obscure;  it  goes 
back  through  eight  generations  to  a  daughter  of  Bustler; 
but  how  her  dam  was  bred  there  is  no  authority.  It  may  be 
conjectured  that  she  was  descended  from  some  of  the  wor- 
thies which  distinguished  themselves  on  the  coarse  in  tho 
reign  of  James  I.  There  are  several  examples  of  a  similar 
nature  traceable  in  the  stud-book,  which  lead  to  the  conclu- 
sion, that  during  the  early  periods  of  breeding  for  the  turf, 
mares  used  for  ordinary  purposes  were  occasionally  selected 
in  case  they  evinced  speed  and  stoutness,  -without  reference 
to  their  Oriental  pedigree.  The  pedigree  of  Highflyer 
affords  a  similar  instance  to  that  of  Eclipse,  and,  singular  to 
relate,  runs  into  precisely  the  same  strain  of  blood.  On  his 
clam's  side  he  can  be  traced  to  a  r»oyal  mare;  but  in  the  pa- 
ternal line  his  genealogy  terminates  in  a  mare  which  pro- 
duced a  filly  from  Bustler,  which  horse  was  a  son  of  the 
Helmsley  Turk.  Although  there  are  scarcely  any  horses  on 
the  turf  at  the  present  day  which  are  not  in  some  degree  de- 
scended from  the  royal  mares,  it  appears  too  much  to  assert 
that  they  all  owe  their  origin  entirely  to  Eastern  blood.  The 
casuist  may,  therefore,  with  consistency  inquire,  What  is  a 
thorough-bred  horse  ?  The  term  is  accepted  conventionally 
to  signify  a  horse  whose  pedigree  can  be  traced  through 
many  generations,  the  members  of  which  have  signalized 
themselves  on  the  turf,  or  have  established  their  reputation 
as  progenitors  of  superior  horses, 


STUD   BOOK.  47 

"Having  indulged  in  a  few  preliminary  canters"  with 
the  coursers  of  the  earlier  ages,  to  the  era  of  James  IT.,  we 
wih1  now  draw  near  to  the  starting-post,  from  which  we  can 
gain  more  extensive  and  authentic  information  concerning 
pedigrees  and  performances,  and  thereby  more  satisfacto- 
rily trace  the  progress  which  has  been  made  in  racing,  and 
breeding  for  that  purpose.  William  HL,  endowed  with  an 
ardent  desire  to  gain  popularity  by  patronizing  the  tastes 
and  fashions  of  his  people,  became  a  decided  patron  of 
racing. 

The  principal  ancestors  of  our  earliest  race-horses  were  the 
Byerley  Turk,  ridden  by  Captain  Byerley,  as  a  charger,  in 
Ireland,  about  the  year  1689.  The  Darley  Arabian,  in  force 
about  1712.  Curwen's  Barb,  a  contemporary;  and  the  Godol- 
phin  Arabian,  which  celebrated  sire  died  in  the  year  1753, 
supposed  to  be  in  his  twenty-ninth  year.  It  is  a  moot  point 
whether  he  was  an  Arabian  or  a  Barb,  but,  however  doubtful 
the  land  of  his  birth,  it  is  an  unquestionable  fact  that  there 
are  very  few  horses  of  distinction  without  a  cross  of  the 
Godolphin  Arabian:  to  him  and  the  royal  mares  the  highest 
honors  are  due. 

As  it  is  evident  that  our  thorough-bred  horses  owe  their 
descent  principally  from  Arabian,  or  other  Eastern  ancestors, 
Barbs,  or  Turks,  in  theory  it  would  appear  that  parents  of 
the  same  blood  would  produce  stock  of  the  highest  value, 
and  the  opinion  has  been  very  earnestly  expressed  that  the 
introduction  of  Arabian  sires  is  absolutely  required  to  infuse 
vigor,  constitution,  stoutness,  and  endurance  into  the  race- 
horses of  the  present  day.  Practical  experience  confutes  the 
argument,  and  the  reasons  will  become  quite  obvious  when 
the  invariable  unsuccessful  examples  of  modern  times  are 
brought  forward.  During  the  present  century  several  Ara- 
bians have  been  imported  for  the  purpose  of  breeding,  and  their 
stock  has  been  found  worthless  compared  with  that  which, 
in  the  course  of  years,  has  become,  so  to  speak,  indigenous  to 
the  country.  With  the  exception  of  one  mare  called  Fair 
Ellen,  an  offspring  of  the  Wenesley  Arabian,  none  have  evin- 
ced even  common  pretensions  to  racing  superiority;  and  here 
it  must  be  observed,  that  although  the  last-named  horse  came 
from  the  East,  his  Arabian  ancestry,  like  that  of  many  others, 
is  disputed.  Within  the  last  twenty  years  several  horses, 
stated  to  have  been  of  the  pure  blood  of  the  desert,  have 
been  brought  to  England  and  started  for  various  races,  but 
they  have  been  invariably  beaten,  although  the  leveling 
power  in  turf  calculations, — a  vast  concession  of  weight  has, 


4:8  THE  ORANGE  COUNTY 

in  every  instance,  been  accorded  to  them.  So  great  is  the 
superiority  of  the  present  breed  of  English  race-horses  over 
those  of  Eastern  extract,  that  no  reasonable  weight  will 
equalize  their  powers  at  the  winning-post. 

Queen  Anne  patronized  the  turf  extensively  by  running 
horses,  and  also  by  annual  presentations  of  gold  cups,  value 
pne  hundred  guineas  each,  to  be  run  for  at  York.  George  I. 
continued  the  example  of  his  royal  predecessor  in  the  pres- 
entation of  cups,  and  in  his  reign  the  first  royal  plate  is 
mentioned  as  having  been  won  at  Black  Hambledon,  in  1716, 
by  Brocklesby  Betty,  a  mare  at  that  time  in  high  repute. 
Racing,  and  consequently  the  stimulus  to  breed  horses  for 
that  purpose,  when  in  its  infancy,  received  a  gracious  impetus 
by  the  presentation  of  royal  plates.  During  the  eighteenth 
century  the  breeding  of  horses  for  the  turf  seems  to  have 
been  generally  confined  to  the  nobility  and  gentry  of  wealth. 
The  fame  of  favorite  progenitors  was  a  powerful  stimulant 
with  them,  and  the  desire  to  breed  good  horses  more  than 
the  love  of  gain  predominated.  The  pursuit  has  now,  with 
few  exceptions,  become  an  object  of  speculation,  and  persons 
of  all  classes  who  keep  studs  do  so  with  a  view  to  profit. 
Still  the  same  good  intention  is  accomplished,  and  much 
more  extensively.  At  the  lowest  computation  there  are  more 
than  five  times  the  number  of  horses  bred  at  the  present 
period  than  there  were  in  the  corresponding  year  of  the  last 
century.  Every  breeder  endeavors  to  produce  the  best 
horses — it  is  his  ambition  and  his  interest  to  do  so. 

There  were  in  those  days  but  few  mares  devoted  to  the 
stud.  A  few  peculiarities  of  character,  incidents,  and  events 
connected  with  some  of  them  are  worthy  of  notice,  from  the 
examples  they  afford  in  the  occult  science  of  breeding:  Bonny 
Black,  for  instance,  bred  by  the  Duke  of  Kutland,  in  1715, 
distinguished  herself  on  the  course,  but  did  not  prove  a 
good  brood  mare;  none  of  her  descendants  were  of  any 
worth,  and  her  family  is  extinct.  Her  running  was  so  very 
superior  that  it  deserves  to  be  described:  at  three  years  old 
she  beat  a  six-year  old  horse  at  even  weights  four  miles;  the 
following  year,  for  the  king's  cup  at  Hambledon  for  five- 
year  old  mares,  four  miles,  without  any  allowance  for  her 
age,  she  beat  a  field  of  thirty,  being  the  greatest  number  of 
horses  that  had  been  known  to  start  for  a  race  in  those  days, 
or  indeed  for  a  long  time  afterwards.  She  won  the  cup 
again  at  the  same  placerwheii  five  years  old,  beating  a  field 
of  fifteen;  also  a  cup  at  Newmarket,  beating  thirteen  com- 
petitors. To  account  for  the  inferiority  of  h3r  progeny  it 


STUD   BOOK.  49 

must  be  observed  that  her  dam  was  by  a  Persian  horse; 
blood  which  does  not  appear  to  have  been  valued  even  in 
thoss  early  days.  It  was  reserved  for  Mr.  Darley  to  intro- 
duce a  horse  which  became  a  worthy  progenitor  of  the  best 
blood  of  the  present  day.  This  gentleman  had  always 
thought  that  the  Arabian  purchased  from  Mr.  Markham  had 
not  been  fairly  treated,  and,  anxious  to  renew  the  experi- 
ment, he  commissioned  his  brother,  then  in  the  East,  to  pro- 
cure another  Arabian  of  promise  and  send  him  to  England. 
The  commission  was  carefully  executed,  and  a  horse  was  met 
with  which  was  bred  in  the  desert.  On  his  arrival  the  beauty 
of  his  symmetry  was  immediately  recognized,  for  it  em- 
braced every  point  that  could  be  desired  in  a  race-horse. 
From  this  horse  is  descended  a  vast  number  of  the  most  cele- 
brated racers,  and  at  the  present  period  there  is  scarce!} 
one  which  does  not  possess  some  of  his  blood.  The  most 
celebrated  of  his  immediate  offspring  were  the  Devonshire 
or  Flying  Childers,  and  Bartletts  Childers,  a  horse  which 
was  never  trained,  but  his  superiority  in  the  stud  is  well 
known.  The  wonderful  tales  which  have  been  related  con- 
cerning Flying  Childers,  like  the  snowball,  have  increased  in 
their  progress,  therefore  a  brief  digression  is  necessary  to 
unfold  these  romantic  conceptions.  It  is  related  that  he 
gave  Fox  twelve  pounds  over  the  Beacon  course  at  New- 
market, and  beat  him  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  a  trial.  Every 
racing  man  would  naturally  inquire  if  Fox  could  not  have 
got  nearer  at  the  end,  and  few  indeed  place  much  reliance 
on  trials  without  substantial  evidence  to  corroborate  reports. 
It  is  also  said  that  he  ran  a  trial  against  Almanzor  and  the 
Duke  of  Rutland's  Brown  Betty,  nine  stone  two  pounds  each, 
over  the  round  course  at  Newmarket,  three  miles  six  fur- 
longs and  ninety-three  yards,  which  distance,  according  to 
many  accounts  in  print,  "he  ran  in  six  minutes  and  forty 
seconds,  to  perform  which  he  must  have  moved  at  the  rate  of 
eigJity-two  fed  and  a-half  in  one  second  of  time,  or  nearly  at 
;he  rate  of  one  mile  in  a  minute"  The  inaccuracy  of  this  is 
patent.  If  a  horse  moved  at  the  rate  described,  he  would 
*et  over  the  distance  in  a  trifle  less  than  four  minutes  and  a 
lalf.  No  horse  that  ever  was  foaled  ever  went  at  the  pace 
spoken  of.  The  rate  of  fifty  feet  in  a  second  is  very  great, 
and  more  than  the  average  pace  required  to  run  the  distance 
of  the  Beacon  course,  four  miles  one  furlong  and  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty  yards,  in  seven  minutes  and  a  half,  which 
Childers  is  also  reported  to  have  done.  After  all  the  high- 
lown  panegyrics  concerning  the  racing  exploits  of  this  horse, 


50  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

in  public — the  only  trials  worthy  of  credence — they  were 
confined  to  the  winning  of  two  matches,  for  the  first  of 
which,  at  six  years  old,  carrying  eight  stone  five  pounds  each, 
he  beat  Speedwell,  a  gelding  of  equivocal  celebrity  (the  dis- 
tance was  four  miles) ;  for  the  second,  when  seven  years  old, 
he  beat  Chanter,  twelve  years  old,  six  miles.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  three  other  matches,  for  which  he  received  forfeit. 
It  is  related  that  he  was  at  first  used  as  a  hunter,  and  that  he 
was  headstrong  and  vicious.  He  was  the  property  of  the 
Duke  of  Devonshire,  who  bought  him  when  young,  from  Mr. 
Childers,  whence  his  name.  He  died  in  the  Duke's  stud,  at 
the  age  of  twenty-six  years.  These  observations  are  not  in- 
tended to  detract  from  his  excellence  in  the  stud,  but  to  con- 
fute the  marvelous  tales  which  seem  to  excite  the  wonder 
and  admiration  of  the  uninitiated,  while  among  experienced 
turfites  they  attain  no  credence.  Bartletts  Childers,  another 
son  of  the  Darley  Arabian,  was  never  trained  to  the  course, 
but  his  symmetry  sufficiently  spoke  for  itself.  A  great  many 
of  the  first  horses  of  the  day  owned  him  for  their  sire,  and 
the  two  Childers  were  soon  acknowledged  for  their  superior- 
ity in  the  stud. 

As  a  worthy  scion  of  the  latter  stands  his  great-grandson, 
the  celebrated  Eclipse,  of  whose  speed  no  correct  estimate 
was  formed;  for,  although  he  contended  with  some  of  the 
best  horses  of  his  day,  he  never  met  with  an  opponent  suffi- 
ciently fleet  to  put  his  powers  to  the  test.  He  was  soon 
withdrawn  from  the  turf,  and  became  the  sire  of  one  hundred 
and  thirty-four  winners,  who  brought  their  owners  more  than 
£160,000  exclusive  of  cups.  He  was  bred  by  the  Duke  of 
Cumberland,  and  owed  his  name  to  his  having  been  foaled 
during  the  great  eclipse  of  1764  At  the  sale  of  the  Duke's 
stud,  he  was  bought  for  seventy-five  guineas.  Eclipse  was 
five  years  old  before  he  was  brought  on  the  turf,  his  first 
race  being  for  the  maiden  plate  at  Epsom.  His  powers  were 
at  once  seen,  and  in  his  next  race,  at  York,  twenty  guineas  to 
one  were  betted  on  him.  During  the  race  this  increased  to 
a  hundred  guineas  to  one.  At  the  end  of  the  first  two  miles 
he  was  a  distance  before  his  competitors,  and  won  with  the 
greatest  ease. 

In  1769  a  Mr.  O'Kelly  became  his  proprietor,  for  sixteen 
hundred  and  fifty  guineas.  In  1779  one  of  the  Bedford 
family  asked  his  price;  O'Kelly  replied,  that  "all  Bedford 
Level  would  not  purchase  him."  From  another  person  he 
asked  £25,000  down,  and  an  annuity  of  £500  for  life.  O'Kelly 
cleared  £25,000  by  him. 


STUD  BOOK.  51 

Eclipse  won  eleven  king's  plates,  in  ten  of  which  he 
carried  twelve  stone,  and  in  the  other  ten.  In  running  he 
had  a  vnst  stride,  and  his  hind  legs  were  so  spread  "that  a 
wheelbarrow  might  have  been  driven  between  them."  The 
points  of  this  horse  most  useful  to  the  breeder  were,  the 
curve 'of  his  head,  the  slant,  extent,  and  substance  of  his 
shoulders,  the  length  of  his  waist,  and  breadth  of  loins,  the 
extent  of  his  quarters,  and  the  length  and  substance  of  his 
thighs  and  forearms.  He  died  in  1789,  aged  twenty-six 
years.  His  heart  weighed  fourteen  pounds. 

KING  HEROD  was  another  famous  racer,  whose  blood  is 
much  valued  at  the  present  day.  He  was  a  descendant  of 
Flying  Childers,  was  the  sire  of  no  less  than  four  hundred 
and  ninety-seven  winners,  which  gained  for  their  proprietors 
upwards  of  £200,000.  He  was  not  brought  on  the  turf  till 
five  years  old.  His  forte  was  stoutness  or  bottom,  and  with 
physical  powers  which  enabled  him  to  carry  weight.  He 
was,  however,  beaten  twice  out  of  five  races  at  Newmarket. 
He  was  the  sire  of  many  celebrated  horses.  King  Herod 
died  in  1780,  at  twenty-one  years  of  age. 

Several  horses  of  high  character  were  foaled  towards  the 
end  of  the  last  century,  the  most  conspicuous  of  which  were 
Sir  Peter  Teazle,  bred  by  the  Earl  of  Derby;  Gohanna,  by 
the  Earl  of  Egremont;  Haphazard,  by  Lord  Darlington; 
Beningborough  and  Hanibletonian,  by  Mr.  Hutchinson; 
Dick  Andrews,  by  Mr.  Lord. 

Many  very  celebrated  horses  are  descended  from  Orville, 
among  which  stand  foremost  in  review  his  son  Emilius,  and 
his  grandson  Priam,  both  Derby  winners.  The  latter  horse 
was  sold  to  go  to  America,  but  not  before  he  had  left  traces 
of  his  sterling  worth.  He  was  the  sire  of  Miss  Letty,  Indus- 
try, and  Crucifix,  each  of  them  winners  of  the  Oaks.  Cos- 
sack and  Hero  also  claim  alliance  to  him.  The  celebrated 
mare,  Alice  Hawthorn,  and  the  clams  of  Voltigeur  and  Fran- 
tic, possess  the  Orville  blood,  to  which  a  numerous  family 
may  be  added  by  reference  to  the  stud-book. 


52  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 


CHAPTER  HI. 

VAETETIES   OF   HORSES. THE    RACE-HORSE. 

THE  English  and  American  race-horse  is  undoubtedly  the 
finest  animal  of  his  species  in  the  world.  In  swiftness  and 
energy  he  surpasses  even  his  Arabian  progenitor,  though  on 
the  burning  sands  of  the  desert,  to  which  not  being  accli- 
mated, he  might  not  be  equal  in  point  of  endurance.  He 
is  always  distinguished  by  the  beautiful  head  of  the  class 
from  which  his  ancestors  sprung;  this  being  as  finely  set  on  a 
neck  of  faultless  contour.  His  oblique  shoulders  give  as 
good  earnest  of  strength,  as  do  his  well-formed  hind-legs  of 
speed.  By  the  sculptor,  perhaps,  the  leg  from  the  knee 
downward  might  be  pronounced  unfit  for  the  beau  ideal  of  a 
perfect  animal,  yet  this,  though  admitted  by  judges  to  be 
sometimes  the  case,  is,  after  all,  a  matter  of  little  conse- 
quence. Certain  it  is,  that  whenever  these  race-horses  have 
contended  on  fair  grounds  with  the  finest  Arabian  breeds,  he 
has  invariably  come  off  conqueror,  even  although  he  may  be 
by  no  means  the  finest  specimen  of  his  own  class. 

The  history  of  the  racing-colt  in  the  present  day  has  in  it 
much  that  is  interesting.  The  first  six  months  of  the  racer 
are  usually  spent  happily  enough;  he  is  with  his  dam,  well 
sheltered,  well  fed,  and  every  want  anticipated,  in  order  that 
his  frame  and  his  powers  may  be  fully  developed  in  the 
least  possible  time.  Then  comes  the  spirit  of  curiosity  and 
of  speculation;  the  owner  is  anxious  to  know  whether  his 
stock  will  be  worth  the  expense  of  keeping,  and  they  are  pre- 
pared for  being  broken-in  soon  after  they  have  attained  the 
age  of  twelve  months:  the  mouth  is  begun  to  be  formed, 
and  before  the  succeeding  autumn  has  closed  in,  they  are 
under  the  care  of  the  training-groom. 

The  system  of  management  is  much  improved.  The 
training-groom  possesses  more  real  knowledge  of  his  busi- 
ness, and  there  is  far  more  humanity  exercised  than  there 
used  to  be.  In  a  very  great  proportion  of  the  training- 
stables  the  full  exertion  of  the  power  and  speed  of  the  colt 
is  oftener  obtained  by  kind  usage  than  by  brutal  cruelty. 

By  and  by  comes  the  day  of  trial.  The  course  is  a  short 
one,  usually  half  a  mile,  but  their  fleetness  and  their  strength 


STUD  BOOK.  53 

are  put  fully  to  the  test  This  is  occasionally  repeated,  in 
order  that  the  trainer  or  the  owner  may  be  put  in  foil  pos- 
session of  the  powers  and  promise  of  the  animal  *At  two 
years  old  the  course  is  sometimes  lengthened  to  three-quart- 
ers of  a  mile,  and  the  speed  is  again  fully  tested. 

At  the  first  glance  there  appears  to  be  some  indiscre- 
tion in  this;  but  the  system  must  be  examined.  It  must  be 
inquired  whether  it  is  not  wrong  to  call  thus  severely  on  the 
power  of  any  animal  before  the  period  at  which  its  strength 
is  developed;  and  whether  the  horse  so  treated  can  attain 
the  state  of  perfection  for  which  he  was  designed.  He  may 
exhibit  strength  and  speed  extraordinary  for  his  age,  but  is 
he  able  to  sustain  the  reputation  that  he  acquires?  His 
bones  not  having  acquired  the  proper  strength,  and  the  mus- 
cles not  having  attained  their  full  power,  is  it  not  reasonable 
to  expect  that  at  no  remote  period  he  may  deceive  his  back- 
ers, a?:d  be  publicly  disgraced;  or  is  it  seen  that  he  gets  old, 
although  not  arrived  at  the  pride  of  youth,  and  is  he  with- 
drawn from  the  course? 

It  must  be  conceded,  that  if  another  year  were  granted, 
and  the  general  date  of  the  appearance  of  the  young  horse 
on  the  course  were  three  years  instead  of  two,  the  spirit  of 
sheer  gambling  would  be  somewhat  curtailed,  many  a  good 
horse  would  be  saved  from  the  sad  fate  of  those  that  are  east, 
and  the  owner  would  rarely  be  out  of  pocket 

On  a  fair  view  of  the  turf,  however,  there  is  considerably 
less  cruelty  exercised  tha.n  there  was  years  ago.  The  training 
for,  and  the  miming  of  the  four-mile  courses,  was  accom- 
panied by  a  great  deal  of  barbarity.  The  number  of  those 
which  die  in  the  training,  or  in  the  running,  is  materially 
diminished.  There  are  numerous  accounts  of  the  horse 
dropping  and  dying  in  contesting  the  four-mile  course,  and 
sometimes  there  were  more  outrageous  heats  than  these. 
The  starting-post  of  the  six-mile  course  once  stood  near  Six- 
mile  Bottom  at  Newmarket  The  horses  are  not  so  much 
punished  in  their  running  as  they  used  to  be.  No  jockey  of 
the  present  day  would  disgrace  himself  by  the  atrocities  that 
were  formerly  committed.  It  is  now  understood  that,  whefi 
a  horse  is  exerting  the  utmost  extent  of  his  stride,  and  is 
straining  every  muscle  and  every  limb  from  a  natural  pria- 
ciple  of  emulation,  the  working  of  the  bit,  or  the  moderate 
application  of  the  whip  or  spur,  may  keep  him  up  to  the 
mark;  but  when  he  has  wound  up  "each  corporeal  agent  to 
the  terrible  feat,"  the  infliction  of  sudden  torture  will  neces- 
sarily disturb  the  harmony  of  action,  and  throw  the  animal  quite 


54  THE   ORANGE    COUNTY 

abroad.  Many  a  race  lias  been  lost  by  the  infliction  of 
wanton  cruelty.  A  bad-tempered  horse  immediately  shuts  up. 
He  is  sftre  to  abate  or  lessen  his  exertion  if  he  is  severely 
punished  when  doing  his  best.  The  owner  or  the  jockey 
will,  however,  be  the  best  judge  of  the  proper  manner  of 
riding  in  particular  cases. 

THE  HUNTER. 

The  hunter  used  chiefly  to  differ  from  the  road-horse  in 
standing  an  inch  or  two  higher,  and  possessing  more  blood. 
He  was  at  least  three-quarters  bred,  with  small  head  and 
thick  neck,  and  therefore  light  in  the  hand;  the  crest  firm  and 
arched,  the  jaws  wide,  and  conssquently  the  head  well  set  on, 
and  the  mouth  light  and  pleasant.  The  forehand  was  higher 
than  that  of  a  racer,  and  although  the  shoulder  was  somewhat 
thicker,  the  saddle  was  in  its  proper  place.  The  barrel  was 
rounder  than  that  of  the  race-horse,  that  there  might  be  more 
room  for  the  lungs  to  play  when  the  pace  was  becoming  dis- 
tressing; the  leg  was  shorter  and  deeper;  the  pastern 
shorter,  yet  retaining  considerable  obliquity;  and  the  foot 
sound;  the  body  short  and  compact,  the  loins  broad,  the 
quarters  long,  the  thighs  muscular,  and  the  hock  well  bent  and 
well  under  the  horse.  This  was  the  hunter  of  former  days,  that 
would  carry  his  master  to  the  covert  side,  and  keep  his  place  in 
the  field  during  a  run  of  two  or  even  four  hours,  and  find  his  way 
home  again  unhurt  and  not  over-tired. 

It  is  not  -every  good  and  fleet  horse  which  will  make  a 
good  hunter.  He  may  have  strength  and  vigor  for  a  long 
journey,  and  yet  not  be  able  to  bear  the  shocks  and  strain- 
ings of  the  chase.  There  never  was,  says  Captain  Brown,  a 
long  limber-legged  horsa  that  was  able  to  gallop  down  steep 
hills,  and  take  bold  leaps  with  a  weight  on  his  back,  without 
sinking  or  foundering. 

A  horse  should  never  be  used  for  field-sport  till  he  is  in 
his  sixth  year,  as  his  joints  will  not  be  well  knit,  nor  his  ten- 
dons sufficiently  tenacious,  till  that  period.  A  horse  in  his 
fifth  year  may  occasionally  be  ridden  out  with  the  hounds 
but  if  he  is  only  moderately  worked  till  the  following  year,  so 
much  the  better. 

It  is  now,  however,  the  fashion  to  breed  the  hunter  chiefly 
for  speed;  he  therefore  is  a  very  different  kind  of  horse  from 
what  he  was.  He  is  the  race-horse  somewhat  more  stoutly 
bred.  The  hunter  of  the  present  day  is  comparatively  seldom 
ridden  to  cover;  a  hack  conveys  the  sportsman,  and  a  second 


STUD   BOOK.  55 

horse  is  provided,  entrusted  to  some  groom  who  knows  the 
country,  and  brings  him  to  the  spot  where  he  is  most  likely 
to  meet  the  hounds  during  the  chase,  which  may  be  then  gen- 
erally prolonged  without  distress  to  either  horse. 

The  spare  horse,  however,  is  not  always  forthcoming 
when  wanted,  for  the  chase  may  have  taken  a  contrary  direc- 
tion to  that  which  was  expected.  Then  comes  a  duty  of 
which  the  horse  will  not  remind  the  rider  until  his  strength 
is  rapidly  wasting,  although  the  attentive  and  humane 
sportsman  can  scarcely  overlook  it.  His  action  becomes 
feeble,  the  flanks  heave  convulsively — there  is  a  peculiar  con- 
vulsive action  of  the  diaphragm.  These  will  be  sufficient  in- 
dications of  distress,  and  no  horse  should  be  urged  on  after 
he  has  unequivocally  exhibited  them.  It  would  be  an  act  of 
injustice  and  cruelty  for  which  no  excuse  can  be  urged.  The 
administration  of  some  restorative,  and  leading  slow  to  the 
nearest  stable,  are  the  best  alternatives  at  the  moment  of 
distress. 

The  training  of  the  hunter  for  this  work  is  a  simple 
affair.  It  is,  by  means  of  exercise  and  of  physic,  getting  rid 
of  all  superfluous  fat  and  flesh,  without  debilitating  him. 
The  physic  is  useful,  in  moderate  doses;  but  the  chief  thing 
is  gradually  to  accustom  him  to  the  exertion  of  every  power 
that  he  possesses,  without  too  much  hurrying  his  breathing, 
or  overstraining  him. 

The  training  of  tha  race-horse  is  of  a  similar  character 
with  that  of  the  hunter,  but  it  is  far  more  severe,  for  his 
strength,  his  speed,  and  his  endurance,  mus  be  tested  to  the 
utmost  The  hunter  has  to  carry  his  rider  gallantly  and  well 
through  perhaps  a  long  burst,  and  if  he  tires,  and  the  sports- 
man has  the  good  sense  and  humanity  to  cease  to  urge  him 
on,  the  greatest  evil  is  some  temporary  suffering  to  him,  and 
disappointment  to  his  master;  but  if  the  race-horse  breaks 
down,  or  if  his  capabilities  have  not  been  accurately  calcu- 
lated, the  most  serious  loss  may  be  sustained.  Thence 
arises  the  necessity  of  testing  every  power  in  the  preparation 
of  the  race-horse;  and  thence,  too,  it  sometimes  happens 
from  injudicious  management,  that  young  horses  break 
down  and  become  perfectly  useless  in  their  training. 

THE  SADDLE-HOKSE. 

In  point  of  real  utility  this  is  the  most  valuable  of  the 
species,  and  it  is  difficult  to  be  met  with  in  perfection,  which, 
of  course,  includes  cheapness  as  well  as  ease  and  safety  of 


56  THE  ORANGE  COUNT? 

action.  Many  faults  may  be  tolerated  in  the  racer  or  hunter, 
but  if  the  former  have  speed,  and  the  latter  bottom,  this  may 
be  oA^erlooked  in  consequence  of  the  animal  being  otherwise 
well  adapted  to  the  purpose  for  which  he  is  intended.  The 
racer  is  frequently  vicious,  and  the  hunter  scarcely  less  so — 
both  perhaps  from  injudicious  or  cruel  treatment;  but  next  to 
safety,  it  is  requisite  that  the  hackney  should  be  quiet  and 
docile,  always  ready  to  identify  his  movements  with  those  of 
the  rider,  whether  he  be  in  action  or  standing  still  waiting  the 
transaction  of  his  owner's  business.  By  kind  treatment  a 
horse  acquires  a  knowledge  of  his  owner's  movements  almost 
as  readily  as  a  dog,  and  is  as  ready  to  acquiesce  in  them ;  so 
that  his  teaching  in  this  respect  devolves  on  his  owner,  as 
much  for  his  own  interest  as  for  the  perfection  of  his  horse. 

The  degree  of  substance  which  the  saddle-horse  should 
possess  must  depend  upon  the  weight  he  has  to  carry,  and 
the  consequent  degree  of  exertion  required  of  him.  A  coun- 
try, the  surface  of  which  is  irregular  or  hilly,  will  require 
strength  and  action  as  primary  requisites  before  speed,  or  at 
least  to  be  combined  with  it.  It  is  no  doubt  agreeable  to 
possess  a  splendid  horse;  but  it  is  questionable  whether  his 
services  will  be  superior  to  those  of  one  of  less  pretensions. 
It  is  by  no  means  essential  that  he  should  carry  his  legs  too 
high,  so  that  he  goes  clear  over  the  ground.  The  height  of 
the  hackney  should  be  from  fourteen  hands  and  a  half  to  fif- 
teen hands  and  an  inch,  having  a  body  of  a  compact  form, 
with  his  joints  well  knit. 

The  head  of  the  saddle-horse  should  be  small,  and  the 
neck  inclining  to  be  thin  towards  the  head.  The  head  will  be 
then  well  set  on,  and  it  will  form  that  angle  with  the  neck 
which  will  give  a  light  and  pleasant  mouth.  This,  however, 
depends  much  on  the  rider,  who,  if  he  do  not  feel  his  mouth 
lightly,  may  easily  spoil  its  sensibility  to  a  light  touch,  and 
may  entail  upon  himself  a  great  deal  of  unpleasant  atten- 
tion to  his  horse's  movements.  The  animal,  when  well  man- 
aged, is  accustomed  to  depend  on  his  rider  for  Ins  guidance; 
and  if  the  rider  have  not  as  much  sensibility  of  touch  in  his 
hand  as  his  horse  has  in  his  mouth,  he  is  not  in  a  situation  to 
give  hinL  an  immediate  check,  so  as  to  prevent  accident  to 
either.  Besides  which,  a  light  touch  always  gives  a  graceful 
position  to  the  horse's  head,  and  is  eminently  conducive 
towards  ease  and  safety  of  action. 

The  shoulders  of  the  saddle-horse,  compared  with  those 
of  the  racer,  or  even  with  those  of  the  hunter,  should  have  a 
little  more  substance  or  thickness,  and  they  should  slope 


STUD  BOOK.  57 

backwards  at  a  considerable  angle  from  the  point  of  the 
shoulders  to  the  withers — at  which  point  there  should  be  an 
evident  degree  of  thinness  and  elevation.  A  well-shouldered 
saddle-horse  will,  when  standing,  have  his  forelegs  perpen- 
dicular to  the  ground.  Hence,  it  is  essential  to  judge  of  the 
a.Tn'Trml  as  well  when  standing  as  moving.  Observe  also, 
when  walking,  whether  he  place  his  forefoot  more  forward 
than  the  shoulder-point,  when  he  puts  it  on  the  ground.  If 
his  shoulders  are  upright  he  cannot  do  so;  and  if  this  be 
not  the  case,  he  will  always  do  so,  and  should  be  rejected,  as 
not  having  a  sound  footing  when  in  motion. 

He  should  have  the  bones  beneath  the  knee  broad  and 
flat,  as  much  so  immediately  under  the  knee  as  they  are 
above  the  fetlock.  The  forelegs  should  be  perfectly  straight, 
for  a  horse  which  stands  over  on  his  knee,  although  but  to  a 
slight  degree,  will,  from  many  a  trifling  cause,  especially  if 
overweighted,  be  liable  to  falL  The  arms,  too,  should  be 
compact  and  muscular,  exhibiting  considerable  bulk  in  pro- 
portion to  the  height  of  the  horse. 

The  foot  is  of  the  first  importance.  In  a  few  words,  it 
should  be  of  a  size  evidently  corresponding  with  the  general 
bulk  of  the  animal  The  feet  should  neither  be  too  hollow — 
showing  a  tendency  to  contraction — nor  too  flat,  the  conse- 
quence of  disease,  exposing  the  sole  to  continual  bruises. 

As  his  general  safety  of  action  may  be  judged  of  by  his 
shoulders,  so  may  his  soundness  be  estimated  by  his  legs 
and  feet  The  foot  should  be  open  at  the  heels,  and  free 
from  corns  and  thrushes. 

The  pasterns  should  be  so  united  at  the  fetlock  that  the 
feet  may  neither  turn  inwards  nor  outwards.  Of  the  two 
faults  it  is  better  that  the  feet  should  turn  a  little  outwards, 
so  that  they  do  not  strike  against  his  fetlock,  than  that  they 
should  turn  inwards.  The  pastern  should  be  short,  with  suf- 
ficient obliquity  to  give  pleasant  action,  but  not  enough  to 
render  the  horse  incapable  of  the  wear  and  tear  of  constant 
hard  work. 

The  last  test  is  to  mount  him3  first  locking  if  his  shoe  is 
unnecessarily  worn  at  the  toe.  If  he  put  his  feet  flat  on  the 
ground  he  is  worth  having  ;  if  he  do  not  so  place  them,  but 
drive  his  toe  into  the  ground,  reject  him,  for  the  odds  are, 
that  before  long  the  rider  will  have  to  measure  his  length  on 
the  ground,  as  the  least  obstacle  will  cause  the  horse  to  trip. 
The  condition  of  the  shoe  is,  however,  a  pretty  good  criterion 
of  this.  If  the  toe  be  greatly  worn,  whilst  the  heel  is  not 


58  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

worn  at  all,  a  judgment  may  be  formed  that  the  horse  will 
be  unsafe. 

The  saddle-horse  is  most  valuable  for  the  pleasantness  of 
his  paces,  his  safety,  good  temper,  and  endurance.  If  he  is 
equal  to  eight  or  ten  miles  an  hour,  the  owner  should  be 
satisfied.  Horses  that  have  extraordinary  fleetness  on  the 
road  are  not  always  pleasant  to  ride,  and  it  is  their  too  usual 
fate  to  be  disabled,  and  comparatively  worthless,  when  the 
slower  horse  is  in  his  prime. 

The  early  life  of  this  horse  perhaps  differs  a  little  from 
that  of  the  farmer's  horse :  he  is  better  taken  care  of  during 
the  first  winter;  he  has  a  hovel  in  which  he  may  shelter  him- 
self, and  has  an  allowance  of  hay,  and  perhaps  of  corn.  The 
winter  passes  away,  and  he  has  suffered  little;  and  during 
the  early  part  of  the  year  he  gets  his  new  coat,  and  is  full  of 
spirits  and  vigor.  In  the  third  year  comes  the  breaking-in; 
and,  with  occasional  exceptions,  he  suffers  not  much  from  the 
ignorance  and  brutality  of  the  breakers.  The  exceptions  to 
this,  although  they  may  be  comparatively  few  and  far  be- 
tween, should  not  be  suffered  for  one  moment  to  exist.  He 
is  destined  for  the  immediate  service  of  the  master,  and 
much  of  his  after-character,  and  the  pleasure  derived  from 
him,  depend  upon  the  manner  in  which  the  breaking  is  per- 
formed. There  is,  as  in  the  inferior  horse,  one  thing  abso- 
lutely indispensable — that  the  colt,  previously  almost  as  free 
as  the  air,  must  be  taught  to  yield  up  his  will  to  another,  and 
to  obey  with  alacrity  his  master's  bidding.  Generally  speak- 
ing, this  is  easily  accomplished.  It  demands  only  a  certain 
degree  of  firmness,  mingled  with  kindness,  and  this  task  is,  in 
the  majority  of  cases,  readily  accomplished.  If  the  animal  is 
at  the  first  somewhat  disposed  to  resist,  mingled  firmness 
and  kindness  will  rarely  fail  to  obtain  a  victory. 

The  faults  which  will  oftenest  require  correction  in  the 
hackney  are  fear  and  restiveness. 

Gentle  treatment  will  rarely  or  never  fail  to  overcome 
fear.  The  disinclination  of  the  colt  to  come  into  contact 
with  the  object  should  be  quietly  but  firmly  resisted,  and 
then,  by  succeeding  in  persuading  him  that  there  is  no 
ground  of  alarm,  an  unpleasant  and  dangerous  habit  is 
broken  at  once.  The  pretended  fear  which  the  colt  will  occa- 
sionally exhibit  is  a  species  of  affectation  that  may  be  as  read- 
ily, and  must  be  very  determinedly,  resisted.  The  quadru- 
ped has  occasionally  as  much  affectation  as  the  human  being, 
and  it  is  fortunate  for  him,  as  well  as  his  owner,  when  this  is 
put  down  with  all  possible  promptness. 


STUD   BOOK.  59 

Restiveness  is  defined,  by  the  author  of  a  recent  work  on 
"Humanity  to  Brutes,"  to  be  "  a  compound  of  mischievous- 
ness  and  stubbornness,  the  will  of  the  horse  being  directly 
opposed  to  that  of  the  rider."  "Now,"  says  this  writer, 
"  the  most  zealous  advocate  for  the  humane  treatment  of  an- 
imals will  readily  admit  that  the  man  must  be  master  and  the 
quadruped  must  obey.  The  only  question  is  as  to  the  means  of 
enforcing  obedience.  Correction  may  occasionally  be  neces- 
sary, but  the  grand  secret  is  to  foil  the  horse  with  his  own 
weapons.  If  severity  is  resorted  to,  it  should  not  be  until  all 
other  means  have  failed.  There  should  be  no  trial  of 
strength  between  the  biped  and  the  quadruped,  for  that  will 
probably  again  and  again  terminate  in  a  drawn  battle  which 
mil  be  renewed  on  the  first  opportunity.  The  horse  may 
fret  and  exhaust  himself,  but  the  rider  must  be  quiet.  If  he 
will  stand  still,  he  should  do  so  until  he  is  tired,  or  he  should 
be  made  to  walk  backwards.  If  he  endeavors  to  turn  round, 
he  should  be  made  to  accomplish  a  whole  instead  of  a  half 
circle,  so  that  he  shall  be  precisely  where  he  was  before. 
Nineteen  horses  out  of  twenty  will  soon  be  convinced  of  the 
iuutility  of  a  struggle  like  this,  and  after  having  repeated  the 
experiment  two  or  three  times,  with  precisely  the  same  re- 
sult, will  submit,  and  become  useful  and  attached  servants. 
If,  however,  he  continues  a  brute,  he  must  be  got  rid  of,  or 
proper  coercion  must  be  applied." 

THE  COACH-HOBSE. 

The  better  kind  are  the  Cleveland  bays,  mostly  bred  in 
the  country,  between  Northumberland  and  Lincoln,  and 
particularly  about  Cleveland  and  the  vale  of  Pickering.  The 
Cleveland  mares,  at  least  those  that  have  been  kept  for 
breeding  purposes,  have  materially  improved  within  the  last 
thirty  or  forty  years.  They  are  taller,  with  better  withers, 
yet  sufficient  roundness  of  the  barrel,  and  flatter  and  deeper 
legs.  These  mares  are  crossed  by  a  three-part  bred  horse,  or 
sometimes  by  a  thorough-bred  one,  that  has  sufficient  sub- 
stance and  height,  arched  crest,  and  high  action.  The  foal  is 
either  the  tall  coach-horse — the  true  Cleveland  bay — or  he  is 
the  four-in-hand,  or  curricle-horse,  or  sometimes  the  hunter, 
and  of  the  best  description,  or  the  better  kind  of  saddle-horse. 
If  the  sire  is  only  half-bred,  we  have  the  post-chaise  or  coach- 
horse,  the  hackney,  and  the  horse  of  common  work — the  worst 
of  mongrels 

Dealers  at  the  proper  season  attend  the  fairs  in  this  dis- 


60  THE   CHANGE   COUNTY 

trict,  and  every  part  of  the  kingdom  is  thence  supplied 
with  horses  for  show,  and  to  a  great  degree,  for  usefulness. 
Even  the  royal  stables  thence  obtain  some  of  their  chiefest 
ornaments. 

The  produce  of  Cleveland  mares  is  a  coach-horse  of  high 
repute,  and  likely  to  possess  good  action.  His  points  are, 
substance  well  placed,  deep  and  well-proportioned  body, 
strong,  and  clean  bone  under  the  knee,  open,  sound,  and 
tough  feet,  with  fine  knee-action,  lifting  his  feet  high.  The 
full-sized  coach-horse  is  in  fact  an  overgrown  hunter. 

The  old  Cleveland  horse  is  almost  extinct,  and  his  place 
supplied  in  the  manner  just  described.  The  Suffolk  Punch, 
the  product  chiefly  of  Suffolk  and  some  of  the  neighboring 
districts,  is  regenerated,  but  is  a  different  sort  of  animal  to 
the  breed  of  olden  times.  He  usually  varied  from  fifteen  to 
sixteen  hands  in  height,  and  was  of  a  son-el  color.  He  was 
large  headed,  low-shouldered,  broad  and  low  on  the  withers, 
deep  and  yet  round  chested;  long  in  the  back,  large  and 
strong  in  the  quarters,  round  in  the  legs,  and  strong  in  the 
pasterns.  He  would  throw  his  whole  weight  into  the  collar, 
and  had  sufficient  hardihood  and  strength  to  stand  a  long 
day's  work.  The  pure  breed  has,  however,  passed  away,  and 
is  succeeded  by  a  cross  between  the  half  or  three-parts  bred 
Yorkshire  with  the  old  Suffolk.  He  is  taller  than  the  former 
horse,  somewhat  higher  and  firmer  about  the  shoulders,  with 
sufficient  quickness  of  action  and  honesty  to  exert  himself  to 
the  utmost  at  a  dead  pull,  whilst  the  proportion  of  the  with- 
ers enables  him  to  throw  immense  weight  into  the  collar. 
The  encouragement  given  by  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society 
of  England  for  horses  of  this  class  has  been  the  cause  of  con- 
siderable increase  in  their  numbers. 

Another  breed  is  the  heavy  draught-horse,  found  usually 
in  the  line  of  country  from  Lincolnshire  to  Staffordshire. 
These  are  often  purchased  by  the  Berkshire  and  Surrey  far- 
mers at  two  years  old,  worked  moderately  until  they  are 
four — earning  their  keep  during  the  whole  of  the  time — and 
then  sent  to  the  London  market  at  a  considerable  profit. 

A  dray-horse  should  have  a  broad  chest,  thick  and 
upright  shoulders,  a  low  forehand,  a  deep  and  round  frame, 
the  loins  broad  and  high,  the  forearms  and  thighs  thick,  the 
legs  short,  the  hoofs  round,  the  heels  broad,  and  the  sole  not 
too  flat  The  largest  of  these  horses  are  used  as  dray-horses, 
the  next  as  wagon-horses,  and  a  smaller  variety,  with  more 
blood,  is  employed  by  the  undertaker.  The  larger  ones — the 
dray-horses  of  the  metropolitan  and  other  brewers — are 


STUD   BOOK.  61 

adapted  more  for  parade,  and  shown  more  to  gratify  the 
ambition  which  one  brewer  has  to  outvie  his  brethern,  than 
for  any  peculiar  utility.  They  are  certainly  enormous 
animals;  but  they  eat  their  full  share  of  provender,  and  in 
hard  and  continued  work  they  would  be  comparatively  beaten 
by  an  equal  number  of  hardy  muscular  horses  much  lower 
in  stature. 

Until  the  establishment  of  the  railroads,  the  stage-coach 
horse  stood  high  in  point  of  utility  and  value.  In  conduct- 
ing a  racing  establishment,  it  would  soon  be  perceived  what 
colts  would  train  on,  and  what  would  ultimately  break  down; 
and,  except  there  is  much  neglect  in  the  management  of  the 
establishment,  the  unsound  and  weak-legged  ones  were  sold, 
and  a  considerable  proportion  of  them  found  their  way  to 
the  fast  coaches.  They  had  the  requisite  speed,  and  strength 
enough  to  last  for  a  considerable  tune.  A  great  improve- 
ment also,  either  from  fashion  or  good  feeling,  took  place  in 
the  management  of  the  stage-coach  horse.  He  was  no  longer 
half-starved,  as  well  as  over-driven,  but  sufficiently  fed,  and 
nothing  exacted  from  him  but  his  own  proper  daily  labor, 
while  he  was  always  fully  equal  to,  or  above,  his  work.  The 
consequence  of  this  was,  that  he  required  little  urging  for- 
ward by  the  torture  of  the  whip;  and  there  was  a  marked 
change  in  point  of  humanity  in  the  conduct  and  character  of 
the  driver.  Every  one  accustomed  to  travel  in  the  public 
carriages  will  cheerfully  and  thankfully  acknowledge  the 
improvement  that  had  taken  place  in  this  respect 

The  length  of  the  stages  were  materially  diminished;  and 
the  proprietors  having  one  horse  in  four  always  at  rest,  each 
of  them  had  the  advantage  of  one  rest  day  in  four.  Nimrod, 
a  competent  judge  in  these  matters,  has  asserted,  in  his 
amusing  work  on  "  The  Chase,  the  Turf,  and  the  Road,"  that 
"no  animal  toiling  solely  for  the  profit  of  man  leads  so  easy 
and  comfortable  a  life  as  the  stage-coach  horse.  He  is 
sumptuously  fed  and  kindly  treated;  he  has  twenty-three  hours 
in  twenty-four  of  rest.  He  is,  except  from  his  own  fault,  al- 
most a  stranger  to  the  lash;  we  rarely  see  him  with  a  broken 
skin;  but  we  do  often  see  him  kicking  up  his  heels  when 
taken  from  his  work,  after  having  performed  his  stage  of  ten 
miles  within  the  hour." 

This  pleasing  picture,  however,  too  frequently  had  its 
shades.  The  system  oPover-working  and  over-feeding,  to 
which  the  horse  was  subject  when  he  came  on  the  road,  was 
undermining  his  constitution;  every  disease  in  him  took  an 
inflammatory  character;  his  legs  were  peculiarly  liable  to 


62  THE   CHANGE   COUNTY 

accident,  and  strains  and  other  evils  frequently  occurred, 
which  required  a  peculiarly  severe  mode  of  treatment,  and 
the  horse  was  unavoidably  made  to  suffer  dreadfully.  Per- 
haps the  evil  was  never  perfectly  remedied.  The  animal  was 
never  competent  to  undertake  his  former  work;  but  he  was 
attached  to  the  heavier  coaches,  or  transplanted  to  those  con- 
cerns of  atrocious  cruelty,  the  night  coaches.  Then  com- 
menced that  loss  of  character,  and  diminution  of  usefulness, 
and  increase  of  misery,  which  were  the  fate  of  thousands  of 
horses  every  year.  This  is  a  picture  of  the  stage-coach  horse 
on  the  bad  roads,  and  under  indifferent  management. 

Kailroads  have  now  been  introduced  in  almost  every  di- 
rection, and  the  quickness  and  economy  of  the  journey  have, 
in  many  parts  of  the  country,  comparatively  destroyed  the 
business  of  the  postmaster.  The  horses  passed  into  other 
hands,  and  sank  to  more  degrading  and  painful  labors;  but 
of  late  their  sky  is  again  somewhat  brightening.  The  expor- 
tation of  horses  of  this  class  to  the  Continent  has  increased 
to  a  degree  that  never  could  have  been  anticipated.  These 
horses  are  destined  for  the  cavalry  service  of  different  coun- 
tries; they  are  such  as  could  not  be  procured  on  the  Conti- 
nent; and  the  work  that  will  be  exacted  from  them  will  not, 
in  the  majority  of  instances,  ever  develop  their  latent  imper- 
fections. 

Of  the  sad  cruelties  practiced  on  the  hackney-coach 
horses,  on  the  day  and  night  cab-horses,  and  on  those  that 
belong  to  the  costermonger  and  inferior  tradesmen,  nothing 
is  here  recorded;  but  if  the  dog,  a  beast  of  draught  in  so 
many  other  countries,  is — we  scarcely  know  why — not 
allowed  to  be  employed  in  this  occupation,  there  ought  to  be 
some  strong  enactments  to  protect  those  poor  old  debilita- 
ted, half-starved  animals  on  whom  the  whole  labor  falls. 

There  is  only  space  for  a  few  remarks  on  some  of  the 
smaller  breeds  of  horses. 

THE   GALLOWAY. 

The  Galloway  derives  its  name  irom  the  district  in  which 
it  is  bred,  in  the  south  of  Scotland. 

The  true  Galloway  is  now  seldom  met  with.  It  was  de- 
stroyed in  the  fruitless  attempt  tq»  increase  the  size  of  the 
animal,  and  to  retain  all  its  peculiar  good  qualities  as  a  pony. 
The  small  horses  that  are  sold  under  the  name  of  Galloways, 
are  mostly  from  Wales  or  the  New  Forest,  and  still  retain 
many  of  the  good  qualities  belonging  to  Merlin  and  to  Old 


STUD   BOOK.  63 

Marske.  The  Welsh  pony  is  often  a  beautiful  animal,  and 
can  scarcely  be  tired.  The  New  Forest  evinces  the  source 
whence  he  sprung,  by  his  spirit,  speed,  and  endurance. 

The  Exmore  ponies  are  far  from  being  so  handsome  as 
the  Welsh,  but  they  are  hardy  and  useful  The  Dartmoor 
ponies  are  still  more  deficient  in  beauty  of  form,  but  well 
suited  to  the  country  in  which  they  are  bred. 

The  Highland  pony  partakes  of  all  the  hardihood  of  the 
others,  but  is  slower  and  somewhat  unpleasant  in  his  paces. 
The  Shetlander  is  the  most  beautiful  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  northern  islands,  although  of  a  very  diminutive  size,  vary- 
ing from  seven  and  a  half  to  nine  and  a  half  hands  in  height. 
He  has  a  small  head,  a  good-tempered  countenance,  and  a 
short  neck  becoming  gradually  fine  upwards.  The  shoulders 
are  low  and  thick,  the  back  short,  the  quarters  expanded  and 
powerful,  the  legs  flat  and  fine,  and  the  foot  retains  its  nat- 
ural form  even  in  old  age. 

THE   CABT-HOBSE. 

Although  we  have  incidentally  spoken  of  one  or  two  va- 
rieties of  the  draught-horse,  our  volume  would  not  be  com- 
plete did  we  not  enter  more  particularly  into  a  description  of 
agricultural  horses.  The  cart-horse  varies  in  almost  every 
county,  but  one  particular  characteristic  is,  or  should  be,  ac- 
tivity, in  conjunction  with  such  a  degree  of  weight  as  will 
give  them  more  physical  power  in  draught. 

The  cart-horse  should  not  be  more  than  sixteen  hands 
high,  with  light,  well-shaped  head  and  neck,  short  ears,  full 
chest,  large  shoulders,  low  in  front,  the  rump  being  higher 
than  the  forehand,  back  strong  and  compact,  legs  short  and 
flat,  fillets  large,  and  pliable  in  the  joints. 

For  heavy  wagon  draught  the  horses  should  be  large, 
provided  the  size  arises  from  build,  and  not  from  flesh  alone, 
which  they  will  be  if  fed  on  sloppy  meat — this  increasing  the 
cellular  and  adipose  matter,  without  nourishing  the  muscu- 
lar fibre. 

The  object  of  breeding  draught-horses  is  to  increase 
strength;  and  this  is  not  best  accomplished  by  increasing 
size,  a  compact  horse  of  fifteen  and  a  half  or  sixteen  hands 
high  being  frequently  more  powerful  than  one  of  seventeen. 
Cart-horses,  when  well  treated  and  moderately  worked,  live 
to  a  great  age,  instances  being  on  record  of  their  reaching 
forty,  though  regularly  worked  every  day  with  younger 
horses. 


64  THE   CHANGE   COUNTY 

European  horses  which  have  not  Eastern  blood  in  their 
veins,  are  widely  different  in  their  physical  structure  from 
the  Asiatic  horse.  Their  bones  are  round  and  porous,  their 
joints  thick,  heads  clumsy,  bodies  bulky,  chest  fleshy,  legs 
thick,  tendons  relaxed,  hair  coarse,  and  hides  spongy.  This 
arises  from  difference  of  pasture  110  less  than  of  breed,  the 
dry  pastures  of  the  East  being  well  suited  to  develop  the  su- 
perior powers  of  the  animal. 

THE   CLYDESDALE   HOUSE 

is  met  with  in  most  counties  north  of  the  Tay,  and  is  a  fa- 
vorite horse  in  England.  These  horses  are  strong,  hardy,  and 
steady,  yet  active.  Their  stature  is  from  fifteen  hands  to  six- 
teen hands  and  a  half  As  farmer's  horses  they  are  superior 
to  most  others.  The  breed  is  originally  from  Flanders  stal- 
lions and  Lenark  mares,  and  was  formed  from  the  experi- 
ments of  the  Duke  of  Hamilton. 

The  Clydesdale  horse  is  lighter  than  was  the  old  Suffolk 
Punch,  and  with  as  much  bone  as  the  latter,  is  more  shape- 
able;  his  neck  is  longer,  his  limbs  clean,  straight,  and  sin- 
ewy, and  his  step  firm  and  active.  He  is  capable  of  great 
muscular  exertion,  is  good-tempered,  and  not  being  un- 
wieldly,  is  no  burden  to  the  soil,  and  therefore  well  adapted 
to  the  plough. 

THE  FAKMER'S  HORSE, 

Half  cart-horse,  half  saddle,  is  seldom  perfect  in  both  capa- 
cities; his  paces  are  slow  and  stiff,  whilst,  from  depend- 
ing on  the  collar  to  keep  him  up,  he  is  apt  to  come  down 
when  ridden.  The  rider,  however,  being  aware  of  this  pecu- 
liarity, and  not  requiring  speed,  generally  contrives  to  keep 
him  on  his  legs. 

When  used  for  drawing  and  riding,  the  farmer's  horse 
should  be  upwards  of  fifteen  hands  high,  with  a  shoulder 
thicker,  lower,  and  less  slanting  than  the  saddle-horse.  He 
should  be  stout  and  compact,  and  if  with  a  little  blood,  so 
much  the  better.  He  should  not  be  put  to  the  heaviest  kind 
of  drawing,  so  that  his  weight  should  not  be  more  than  will 
allow  of  tolerable  speed. 

The  farmer's  horse,  ridden  occasionally,  but  more  em- 
ployed for  draught,  should  not  be  the  slow,  bulky  animal  of 
former  times,  but  a  slight  degree  taller  than  the  road-horse, 
with  his  shoulder  thicker  and  less  slanting,  stout  and  com- 


STUD  BOOK.  65 

pact,  and  having  a  little,  and  but  a  little,  of  the  blood-horse 
in  him.  A  good  judge  of  the  horse  has  said,  and  it  sums  up 
the  character  of  the  animal,  that  "he  should  have  weight 
enough  to  throw  into  the  collar,  and  sufficient  activity  to  go 
over  the  ground."  The  farmer's  horse  may  not  be  often 
over-fed,  but  he  is  seldem  overworked,  and,  except  in  the 
hay  and  corn  harvest,  his  employment  is  easy. 

The  colors  of  the  horse  are  very  variable,  the  principal 
being  as  follows: — Bay,  of  many  shades,  but  always  distin- 
guished by  black  manes  and  tails.  Gray,  of  seven  or  eight 
varieties.  Dun,  of  several  shades,  having  for  the  most  part 
a  black  list  along  the  spine.  Roan,  is  bay,  black,  or  sorrel, 
intermixed  with  white  hair.  Chestnut,  light  or  dark  Pie- 
bald, of  two  colors,  one  being  white.  Besides  the  colors 
enumerated,  there  are  many  others,  as  grissel,  sorrel,  cream- 
color,  black,  ivhite,  fleabtften,  &c.,  &c. 

White  and  cream-colored  horses  were  formerly  much  es- 
teemed by  persons  of  high  rank.  The  temper  of  the  horse 
and  his  moral  qualities  vary  as  much  as  does  his  color,  but 
no  doubt  these  qualities  are  much  influenced  by  his  early 
treatment;  yet  are  good  and  bad  qualities  sufficiently  hered- 
itary to  be  guarded  against  in  breeding,  and  some  men  even 
go  so  far  as  to  state  that  they  are  the  characteristics  of  dis- 
tinct breeds;  but  for  this  there  is,  perhaps,  no  valid  founda- 
tion. 


EARLY   TRAINING. 


Opinions  are  divided,  whether  it  is  conducive  to  imper- 
fection in  the  race-horse  to  persevere  with  the  prevailing 
fashion  of  running  them  at  two  years  old,  and  many  argu- 
ments may  be  adduced  on  both  sides.  Those  who  are  op- 
posed to  the  practice,  contend  that  the  limbs  of  young  ani- 
mals are  not  sufficiently  matured  to  sustain  the  ordeal  of 
training,  and  that  running  them  at  so  early  an  age  shortens 
the  period  of  their  services  on  the  turf;  moreover,  that  it  is 
calculated  to  establish  constitutional  defects,  which  they 
transmit  to  their  progeny.  The  treatment  adopted  with 
yon  ng  racing  stock  is  such  as  to  create  an  early  maturity  of 
the  system,  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  in  this  important 
respect  vast  improvements  have  been  made  on  the  practice 
of  our  forefathers. 

The  supposition  that  early  racing  reduces  the  period  of 
a  horse's  career  on  the  turf  is  not  established  by  fact;  in- 
deed, there  is  very  conclusive  evidence  to  the  contrary,  which 
will  be  seen  on  reference  to  the  table  of  the  comparative 


66  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

performances  of  ancient  and  modern  horses.  Many  other 
examples  may  be  added,  but  it  would  be  tedious  to  enumer- 
ate them.  The  "Bating  Calendar,"  and  "Huff's  Guide," 
will  support  this  assertion,  convince  those  who  are  skeptical, 
and  amuse  those  who  delight  in  researches  of  that  nature. 
In  favor  of  the  practice  it  may  be  observed  that  the  life- 
time of  a  horse  is  limited,  and  there  is  no  reason  to  imag- 
ine that  the  period  of  his  existence  is  affected  by  the  age  at 
which  his  services  commence.  If,  therefore,  a  colt  or  filly  be 
used  for  racing  at  two  years  old,  and  continues  to  run  four 
or  five  years  only,  there  is  the  more  time  to  calculate  upon 
the  valuable  services  of  either  in  the  stud,  than  if  they  were 
not  trained  till  they  had  attained  the  age  of  five  or  six  years. 
Although  there  are  some  gentlemen  who  breed  and  keep 
race-horses  purely  for  amusement,  there  are  many  persons 
who  keep  them  with  no  other  view  than  that  of  profit,  and 
they  compose  by  far  the  greater  majority;  they  are  essenti- 
ally a  shrewd,  calculating  class  of  men,  and  would  not  enter 
into  transactions  which  they  do  not  know  to  be  advantageous 
to  them.  It  is  the  breeders  and  owners  of  race-horses  who 
encourage  the  races  for  young  horses,  not  the  public,  for  the 
money  which  is  added  to  those  stakes  is  not  proportionate  to 
that  which  is  given  for  horses  of  more  mature  age.  The 
amount  which  may  be  gained,  irrespective  of  betting,  by  win- 
ning a  two-year-old  stake  does  not  generally  equal  the  sum 
which  may  be  won  by  a  handicap  for  horses  more  advanced 
in  years;  most  men  are  anxious  to  know  the  capabilities  of 
their  young  horses  before  they  incur  great  expenses.  What- 
ever patriotic  impulses  might  have  instigated  breeders  of 
race-horses  in  the  early  days  of  the  turf,  those  motives  cer- 
tainly do  not  predominate  with  the  present  generation;  but 
if  the  same  good  object  be  obtained,  the  stimulus  to  breed 
horses,  and  that  in  connection  with  individual  profits,  surely 
no  argument  can  be  held  in  opposition  to  the  conjoined  ad- 
vantages. As  it  is  evidently  the  interest  of  breeders  to  run 
their  horses  at  an  early  age,  any  measures  which  would  dis- 
courage the  practice  would  be  objectionable  and  futile;  objec- 
tionable, because  it  would  operate  as  a  discouragement  to 
breeding  horses.  If  the  argument  could  be  established  that 
it  predisposes  them  to  disorders,  which  they  entail  upon  their 
progeny,  that  would  be  a  good  reason  to  advance,  but  such  a 
position  cannot  be  maintained.  Take  the  leg  as  an  example, 
and  that  limb  is  more  subservient  to  the  effects  of  work  than 
any  other.  Some  of  the  most  celebrated  horses  have  natur- 
ally a  conformation  of  their  fore-legs,  which  is  object- 


STUD   BOOK.  67 

tionable  in  appearance,  and  many  of  their  produce  inherit 
that  conformation;  but  it  cannot  be  traced  to  the  effect  of 
early  training,  or  severe  work  at  any  age.  Partisan  was  by 
no  means  celebrated  for  the  appearance  of  his  fore-legs, 
which  he  doubtless  inherited  from  his  grandam  Prunella,  as 
most  of  her  descendants  possess  a  similar  imperfection.  The 
same  might  have  been  traced  to  Venison,  nevertheless  his 
legs  were  unequivocally  sound,  otherwise  he  could  not  have 
undergone  the  very  severe  racing  and  constant  traveling, 
which  he  did  at  three  years  old.  There  are  likewise  other 
failings,  spavins  and  curbs,  for  example,  which  result  from  an 
imperfection  in  the  form  of  the  hocks;  these  are  hereditary 
imperfections,  in  which  case  they  will  sometimes  develop 
themselves  without  any  exercise,  they  occasionally  proceed 
from  work,  and  make  their  appearance  on  hocks  of  the  most 
perfect  form;  but  curbs  and  spavins  are  by  no  means  so  pre- 
valent as  they  were  some  five-and-twenty  years  ago,  at  which 
period  it  was  quite  the  fashion  to  fire  the  hocks  of  young 
horses,  especially  those  which  were  intended  for  hunters,  not 
because  they  evinced  any  weakness  or  apparent  defects,  but 
the  poor  animals  were  unnecessarily  tortured  and  disfigured 
for  no  good  purpose.  Such  absurdities  are  happily  not  prac- 
ticed in  these  days  of  enlightenment.  Roaring  is  a  disorder 
which  appears  to  prevail  to  a  considerable  extent,  and  great 
attention  has  been  devoted  to  the  subject,  yet  no  one  has 
traced  its  origin  to  the  effects  of  early  training. 

Early  training  does  not  appear  to  have  produced  ill  effects 
on  several  of  our  best  horses,  by  incapacitating  them  from 
accomplishing  their  most  brilliant  performances  when  they 
arrived  at  maturity,  indeed  most  horses  of  celebrity,  although 
trained  at  two  have  continued  on  the  turf  till  they  were  six 
years  old.  Beeswing  won  the  Doncaster  cup  when  she  was 
seven  years  old.  Both  Touchstone  and  Lanercost  won  the 
cups  at  Ascot  when  they  were  six  years  old.  Charles  "X"TT. 
won  the  Goodwood  cups  two  years  in  succession,  on  the 
latter  occasion  when  he  was  six  years  old.  Si  Francis,  when 
five  years  old,  won  the  Ascot  cup,  and  Epirus,  at  the  same 
age,  the  steward's  cup  at  Goodwood. 


68  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 


CHAPTER  IV. 

CONFORMATION   OF   THE   HORSE. 

A  VERT  general  account  only  can  be  given  of  this,  for  it 
varies  essentially  with  the  breed  and  destination  of  the  animal. 
It  is  not  within  the  scope  of  this  treatise  to  enter  minutely 
into  the  anatomical  structure  of  this  noble  animal.  We  will, 
however,  take  such  a  general  view  of  it  as  will  be  interesting 
and  instructive  to  the  unscientific  reader. 

In  a  physical  sense,  the  horse  exhibits  as  high  a  degree  of 
organization  as  does  a  human  being.  There  is  the  same  va- 
riety of  complex  structure,  and  the  same  adaptation  of 
means  to  an  end.  Without  some  knowledge  of  these,  an  ac- 
curate judgment  of  the  capabilities  of  the  animal  cannot  be 
arrived  at;  nor  can  it  be  readily  understood  as  to  the  kind  of 
labor  he  can  perform  without  injury,  and  the  way  in  which 
he  should  be  set  to  perform  that  labor.  The  general  struc- 
ture of  the  horse  consists  of  a  complicated  set  of  levers,  i.  e., 
bones,  ah1  acting  in  combination  with  each  other,  by  means 
of  the  ropes,  i.  e.  muscles  and  tendons;  and  it  is  of  the  great- 
est possible  use  to  know  how  these  act  on  each  other,  so  that 
they  may  never  be  made  to  act  in  any  other  direction  than 
that  intended  by  nature;  any  violation  of  this  rule  is,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  attended  with  corresponding  injury  to  the 
animal. 

To  illustrate  this  in  the  familiar  instance  of  draught,  this 
being  one  of  the  chief  purposes  for  which  the  animal  was  in- 
tended. The  way  in  which  this  is  effected  is,  by  the  horse 
throwing  his  body  forward,  so  as  to  cause  his  weight  to  act 
upon  the  load.  This  act  would  naturally  cause  him  to  fall, 
but  from  his  advancing  the  legs  in  such  a  manner  as  to  raise 
the  body,  and  not  only  to  support  himself  during  the  effort, 
but  in  such  a  way  as  will  enable  him  constantly  to  renew  the 
effort.  It  is  evident  that  in  this  motion  of  the  body,  there 
must  be  a  point  in  which  both  the  weight  of  the  body  and 
the  power  of  the  animal's  muscles  and  limbs  are  concentra- 
ted. This  point  is  called  the  centre  of  gravity;  and  if  the 
horse  be  not  harnessed  so  as  to  cause  this  point  to  act  in  the 
most  favorable  manner  upon  the  load,  of  course  so  much  of 
the  animal's  power  is  lost  as  is  wasted  by  pulling  in  a  wrong 


STUD  BOOK.  69 

direction;  or  what  is  still  worse,  in  order  to  accomplish  the 
object,  he  is  compelled  to  exert  himself  injuriously  in  per- 
forming that  which  a  little  consideration  on  the  part  of  his 
master  would  otherwise  render  easy  to  him.  In  the  same 
way,  if -he  be  harnessed  too  far  from  his  neck,  the  centre  of 
gravity  will  be  thrown  into  a  contrary  direction  to  that  in 
which  it  could  most  efficiently  act;  and  thus  loss  of  power, 
and  consequently  injury  from  greater  exertion,  must  be  the 
result.  In  other  words,  if  the  direction  of  the  power  em- 
ployed be  different  to  that  of  the  weight  to  be  moved,  the 
power  is  not  used  to  the  best  advantage,  and  the  strength  of 
the  animal  is  wasted  to  no  purpose.  It  is  only  by  an  ac- 
quaintance with,  and  a  study  of  the  structure  of  the  horse, 
that  we  can  put  him  to  the  best  uses;  not  necessarily  a  scien- 
tific knowledge  of  his  structure,  but  so  far,  at  least,  as  to 
comprehend  the  nature  of  the  machine — for  such  the  horse 
is — which  we  are  employing. 

There  are  some  points,  however,  which  are  valuable  in 
horses  of  every  description.  The  head  should  not  be  dispro- 
portionally  large,  and  should  be  well  set  on,  i.  e.  the  lower 
jaw-bones  should  be  sufficiently  far  apart  to  enable  the  head 
to  form  that  angle  with  the  neck  which  gives  to  it  free  mo- 
tion and  a  graceful  carnage,  and  prevents  its  bearing  too 
heavy  on  the  hand.  The  eye  should  be  large  and  a  little 
prominent,  and  the  eyelid  fine  and  thin.  The  ear  should  be 
small  and  erect,  and  quick  in  motion.  The  lop-ear  indicates 
dullness  or  stubbornness;  and  when  it  is  habitually  laid  too 
far  back  upon  the  neck,  there  is  frequently  a  disposition  to 
mischief.  The  nostril  in  every  breed  should  be  somewhat 
expanded;  it  can  hardly  be  too  much  so  in  the  racer,  the 
hunter,  the  roadster,  and  the  coach-horse,  for  the  horss 
breathes  only  through  the  nostril,  and  would  be  dangerously 
distressed  when  much  speed  is  required  of  him  if  the  nostril 
could  not  dilate  to  admit  and  to  return  the  air.  The  neck 
should  be  of  moderate  length.  It  should  be  muscular  at  the 
base,  and  gradually  become  fine  as  it  approaches  the  head. 
The  withers  should  be  somewhat  high  in  every  horse,  except 
perhaps  that  of  heavy  draught,  and  it  does  not  harm  him,  for 
there  is  a  larger  surface  for  the  attachment  of  the  muscles  of 
the  back,  and  they  act  with  greater  mechanical  advantage. 

The  chest  is  the  first  point  to  be  looked  at,  both  in  point 
of  capacity  and  form.  Without  capacity,  the  lungs  of  the  an- 
imal cannot  ba  properly  adapted  to  the  exertion  which  he 
has  to  undergo; — the  form  is  essential  to  be  adapted  for  the 
purpose  for^  which  he  is  intended,  whether  for  riding  or 


70  THE   OEANGE   COUNTY 

draught.  In  the  latter  case,  especially  for  heavy  work,  the 
broad  chest  is  eligible,  as  acting  more  effectively  on  the  col- 
lar, both  from  size  and  weight.  If  light  draught  be  required, 
a  moderate  size,  with  depth  of  girth,  is  preferable,  whist  for 
riding,  the  chest  should  be  so  formed  as  not  to  throw  the 
weight  too  forward,  the  result  of  which  would  be  undue  and 
injurious  pressure  on  the  legs. 

The  back  is  the  next  point.  If  the  horse  be  intended  for 
riding,  and  speed  be  required,  the  back  may  be  longer  than 
for  other  purposes,  as  the  paces  of  the  horse  will  be  easier. 
If  for  general  purposes,  a  moderately  short  carcass  is  to  be 
preferred;  it  will  be  more  compact,  stronger,  and  yet  suffi- 
ciently easy  in  pace.  The  back  should  be  straight  to  the 
loins,  and  these  should  be  broad,  muscular,  and  well  joined 
together,  no  depressions  being  observed  between  them,  this 
being  a  sure  indication  of  weakness.  There  should,  however, 
be  a  depression  behind  the  withers,  and  these  should  be 
high;  for  independent  of  the  additional  power  gained,  the 
more  the  fore  quarters  are  raised,  the  longer  will  be  the 
stride,  and  the  safer  will  be  the  action.  The  muscles  about 
the  withers  should  also  be  well  developed,  as  should  also 
those  of  the  chest,  which  should  be  well  expanded. 

The  shoulder  is  another  important  point;  the  greater  the 
angle  between  the  shoulder-blade  and  the  lower  bone  the 
greater  will  be  the  ease  in  motion  and  the  more  extended 
the  stride,  an  upright  shoulder  being  inimical  to  both.  An 
oblique  shoulder  also  gives  greater  safety,  from  the  centre  of 
gravity  being  kept  well  behind  the  points  which  support  the 
animal  It  is  not  difficult  to  form  a  correct  judgment  of 
the  proper  obliquity  of  the  shoulder,  for  where  it  is  too  up- 
right, it  has,  of  necessity,  more  muscle,  which  from  undue 
exercise  becomes  thick  and  clumsy.  These  points  should 
be  well  attended  to  in  a  riding-horse,  but  for  the  purpose 
of  draught,  in  which  great  power  is  essential,  and  the  pace 
of  less  importance,  the  upright  shoulder  is  not  so  disad- 
vantageous, as  giving  the  horse  additional  weight  to  throw 
into  the  collar,  as  well  as  enabling  him  to  press  steadily  on 
every  part  of  it,  his  hind  quarters  giving  the  requisite  im- 
pulse. 

The  arm,  or  the  part  extending  from  the  elbow  to  the 
knee,  must  next  be  regarded;  and  the  muscles  proceeding 
from  the  shoulder-blade  and  the  lower  bone  of  the  shoulder, 
to  the  junction  of  the  elbow,  should  be  well  considered; 
for  upon  these  depend  the  free  extension  of  the  arm,  and 
«!li2  quickness  and  length  of  the  stride.  Here  we  have  an 


STUD  BOOK.  71 

illustration  of  the  lever;  the  elbow-joint  is  the  centre  of 
motion,  the  shoulder  is  the  weight  to  be  raised,  and  the 
leg  is  the  lever,  and  the  muscles  form  the  power  by  which 
the  limb  is  raised.  Hence,  the  elbow  itself  should  be  deep, 
as  giving  increased  power  of  action. 

The  knee  is  next  to  be  considered.  It  should  be  very 
broad  in  comparison  with  the  arm  and  the  shank,  for  as  this 
is  the  fulcrum  of  the  whole  machine,  the  muscles  and  liga- 
ments which  envelope  it  should  be  of  the  greatest  possible 
strength,  and  should  be  thoroughly  developed.  The  broader 
the  knee  is,  the  greater  will  be  the  strength  of  the  part.  The 
leg  itself  is  of  great  importance :  it  is  formed  of  three  bones, 
giving  great  strength,  from  the  whole  weight  of  the  horse 
being  thrown  upon  it.  The  sinews  should  be  firm,  promi- 
nent, and  clearly  defined.  The  foot  is  described  in  another 
page. 

Other  points  of  the  horse  have  been  so  repeatedly  no- 
ticed, when  speaking  of  distinct  breeds,  that  it  is  unnecessary 
to  recapitulate  them  here. 

The  horse  is  naturally  an  herbivorous  animal  His  thin 
and  muscular  lips,  his  firm  and  compressed  mouth,  and  his 
sharp,  incisor  teeth,  are  admirably  adapted  to  seize  and  to 
crop  the  herbage.  In  his  domesticated  state,  however,  he  is 
destined  to  li ve  partially  or  chiefly  on  other  aliment,  and  that 
of  a  much  harder  kind — the  various  species  of  corn;  there- 
fore, while  man  and  the  carnivorous  a.Tnnm1a  can  only  champ 
and  crush  their  food,  a  provision  is  given  to  the  horse,  in  the 
structure  of  some  of  the  bones  of  the  head,  by  means  of 
which  he  can  comminute  and  grind  down  his  food  as  per- 
fectly as  in  the  best-contrived  mill 

The  teeth  of  the  horse  require  some  lengthened  consid- 
eration, not  only  from  their  admirable  adaptation  to  this 
purpose,  but  as  indicating,  by  the  various  changes  which 
they  undergo,  and  almost  beyond  the  possibility  of  error, 
the  age  of  the  animal  He  may,  when  young  in  years,  be 
reduced  nearly  to  the  decrepitude  of  age  by  the  barbarous 
usage  of  those  who  ought  to  have  been  his  most  zealous  pro- 
tectors; the  cavity  above  the  eye  may  be  deepened,  the  un- 
der-lip may  fall,  the  limbs  may  be  bowed,  and  the  feet  may 
be  battered  and  distorted — but  it  is  not  easy  to  alter  the 
character  of  the  teeth. 

The  colt  is  generally  dropped  with  the  first  and  second 
molar  and  grinding-teeth  having  forced  their  way  through 
the  gum.  "When  he  is  about  seven  or  eight  days  old  the 
two  central  front  or  incisor  teeth,  above  and  below,  appear. 


72  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

At  the  expiration  of  five  or  six  weeks,  the  two  next  incisors 
may  be  seen.  At  three  months  they  will  have  overtaken  the 
central  ones,  and  both  pairs  will  have  nearly  attained  their 
natural  level.  A  third  grinder  will  then  have  appeared;  and 
a  little  before  or  after  the  eighth  month,  the  third  nipper, 
above  and  below  and  on  each  side,  will  have  protruded.  The 
colt  will  now  have  his  full  complement  of  front  or  cutting 
teeth. 

These  teeth  are  beautifully  adapted  to  their  purpose. 
They  have  in  front  an  elevated  cutting  edge  of  consider- 
able sharpness.  It  is  formed  of  enamel,  a  polished  sub- 
stance which  covers  the  tooth,  and  is  almost  too  hard  to  be 
acted  on  by  a  file.  This  elevated  edge  is  bent  somewhat  in- 
wards, and  over  the  tooth,  so  that  there  is  a  depression  be- 
hind it  which  gradually  becomes  stained  by  the  food,  and 
constitutes  what  is  called  "  the  mark,"  in  the  mouth  of  the  colt 
or  horse. 

This  elevated  edge  of  enamel,  hard  as  it  is,  is  gradually 
worn  down  in  the  act  of  nipping  and  cutting  the  food;  and 
as  it  wears  away,  the  hollow  behind  becomes  diminished,  and 
is  at  length  totally  obliterated.  By  the  degree  in  which  this 
mark  is  effaced,  the  horseman,  not  only  with  regard  to  the 
first,  but  the  permanent  teeth,  judges  of  the  age  of  the  ani- 
mal. This  obliteration  begins  to  be  manifest  at  a  very  early 
age.  At  six  months  it  is  sufficiently  evident  in  the  four  cen- 
tral nippers.  At  a  year  and  a  half  the  mark  will  be  very 
faint  in  the  central  nippers,  diminished  in  the  other  two,  and 
the  surface  of  all  of  them  will  be  flattened. 

At  twelve  months  a  fourth  grinder  protrudes,  and  a  fifth 
at  the  expiration  of  two  years. 

These  are  all  temporary  teeth.  They  were  only  designed 
to  last  during  an  early  period  of  the  life  of  the  animal;  and 
when  his  jaws  become  considerably  expanded,  they  give  way 
to  another  set,  larger,  firmer,  and  that  will  probably  last  dur- 
ing life.  The  permanent  teeth  had  been  long  growing  in  the 
socket  beneath  the  temporary  ones,  and  had  been  pressing 
upon  their  roots,  and  that  pressure  had  caused  an  absorp- 
tion of  these  roots,  until  at  length  they  lost  all  hold  and  were 
displaced. 

When  the  animal  is  about  three  years  old,  the  central  pair 
of  nippers,  above  and  below,  are  thus  removed,  and  two  fresh 
teeth,  easily  distinguishable  from  the  first  by  their  increased 
size,  make  their  appearance,  so  that  a  three-year-old  colt  is 
easily  recognized  by  these  two  new  and  enlarged  central 
nippers. 


STtJD   BOOK.  73 

A  three-year-old  colt  has  his  form  and  energies  much 
more  developed  than  a  two-year-old  one,  and  is  considerably 
more  valuable;  therefore  some  dishonest  breeders  endeavor 
to  pass  him  upon  the  unwary  as  being  a  year  older  than  he 
really  is,  and  they  accomplish  this,  in  an  ingenious  but  cruel 
manner,  by  punching  or  drawing  out  these  teeth.  This  can- 
not, however,  be  effected  until  a  portion  of  the  second  year  is 
past,  when  the  permanent  teeth  below  are  beginning  to  press 
upon  the  roots  of  their  predecessors,  and  then  the  breeder 
extracts  the  central  milk-teeth.  Those  below,  having  no 
longer  anything  to  resist  their  progress,  grow  far  more  rap- 
idly than  they  otherwise  would  do,  and  the  scoundrel  gains 
four  or  five  months  in  the  apparent  age  of  his  colt. 

Can  this  trickery  be  detected  ?  Not  always,  except  by 
one  who  is  well  accustomed  to  horses.  The  comparatively 
slow  wasting  of  the  other  nippers,  the  difference  of  the  de- 
velopment of  these  nippers  in  the  upper  and  under  jaw — for 
the  breeder  usually  confines  his  roguery  to  the  lower  jaw,  the 
upper  one  being  comparatively  seldom  examined — these  cir- 
cumstances, together  with  a  deficiency  of  general  develop- 
ment in  the  colt,  will  sufficiently  enable  the  purchaser  to 
detect  the  attempted  cheat. 

The  honest  mouth  of  a  three-year-old  horse  should  be 
thus  formed  : — the  central  teeth  are  palpably  larger  than  the 
others,  and  have  the  mark  on  their  upper  surface  evident  and 
well  defined.  They  will,  however,  be  lower  than  the  other 
teeth.  The  mark  in  the  next  pair  of  nippers  will  be  nearly 
worn  away,  and  that  in  the  corner  nippers  will  have  begun 
to  wear. 

At  three  years  and  a-half  the  second  nippers  will  be 
pushed  from  their  sockets,  and  their  place  gradually  sup- 
plied by  a  new  pair;  and  at  four  and  a-half  the  corner  nip- 
pers wOl  be  undergoing  the  same  process.  Thus  at  four 
years  old  the  central  nippers  will  be  fully  grown:  the  next 
pair  will  be  up,  but  will  not  have  attained  their  full  height ; 
and  the  corner  nippers  will  be  small,  with  their  mark  nearly 
effaced.  At  five  years  old  the  mark  will  begin  to  be  effaced 
from  the  central  teeth;  the  next  pair  will  be  fully  grown,  and 
the  blackness  of  the  mark  a  little  taken  off;  and  the  corner 
pair  will  be  protruding  or  partly  grown. 

At  this  period,  or  between  the  fourth  and  fifth  year,  an- 
other change  will  take  place  in  the  mouth  of  the  horse;  the 
tushes  will  have  begun  to  appear.  There  will  be  two  of 
them  in  each  jaw,  between  the  nippers  and  the  grinders,  con- 
siderably nearer  to  the  former  than  the  latter,  and  particu- 


74  THE  OBANGE  COUNTY 

larly  so  in  the  lower  jaw.  The  use  of  these  tushes  in  the 
domesticated  state  of  the  horse  is  not  evident;  but  they  were 
probably  designed  as  weapons  of  offence  in  the  wild  state  of 
the  animals.  Attempts  are  too  frequently  made  to  hasten  the 
appearance  of  the  second  and  the  corner  teeth,  in  the  same 
manner  as  described  with  regard  to  the  first,  and  the  gum  is 
often  deeply  lanced  in  order  to  hasten  the  appearance  of  the 
tush. 

At  six  years  old  the  mark  on  the  central  nippers  will  be 
diminished,  if  not  obliterated.  A  depression  and  a  mark  of 
rather  brown  hue  may  remain,  but  the  deep  blacked  hole  in 
the  centre  will  no  longer  be  found.  The  other  incisors  will 
also  be  somewhat  worn,  and  the  tush  fully  developed. 

At  seven  the  mark  on  the  next  pair  of  incisors  will  have 
nearly  disappeared,  and  the  tush  will  be  rounder  at  the 
point  and  the  edges. 

At  eight  the  mark  will  be  gone  from  all  the  incisor  teeth, 
and  the  tush  will  be  evidently  rounder  and  blunter. 

At  this  period  another  piece  of  trickery  is  occasionally 
practiced.  The  breeder  had,  until  the  animal  was  five  years 
old,  been  endeavoring  to  give  him  an  older  appearance  than 
his  years  entitled  him  to,  because,  in  proportion  as  he 
approached  the  period  when  his  powers  were  most  perfectly 
developed,  his  value  increased;  but  now  he  endeavors  to 
conceal  the  ravages  of  age.  The  horse  is  cast,  and  with  a 
sharp-pointed  steel  instrument  a  little  hole  is  dug  on  the  sur- 
face of  the  corner  incisor,  to  which  a  red-hot  iron  is  after- 
wards applied.  An  indelible  black  mark  is  thus  left  on  the 
tooth.  Sometimes  the  roguery  is  carried  further;  the  next 
tooth  is  slightly  touched  with  the  engraver  and  the  cautery  ; 
but  here  the  dishonest  dealer  generally  overreaches  himself, 
for  the  form  and  general  appearance  of  a  six-year  old  horse 
can  rarely  be  given  to  one  which  has  passed  his  eighth  year. 
The  eighth  year  having  passed,  it  is  difficult  to  decide  on  the 
exact  age  of  the  horse.  The  incisors  of  the  upper  jaw  are 
then  the  best  guides.  At  nine  years  the  mark  will  be  worn 
away  from  the  central  teeth;  at  eleven,  from  the  next  pair  ; 
and  at  twelve  from  the  corner  ones.  The  tush  likewise 
becomes  shorter  and  blunter. 

There  are  many  circumstances  which  render  a  decision  as 
to  the  age  of  the  horse  very  difficult  after  the  marks  are 
effaced  from  the  lower  incisors,  and  even  before  that  period. 
Horses  always  kept  in  the  stable  have  the  mark  much  sooner 
worn  out  than  those  that  are  at  grass;  and  it  is  impossible 
to  form  any  certain  calculation  as  to  crib-biters. 


STUD   BOOK.  75 

Of  the  age  to  which  the  horse  would  naturally  arrive  it  is 
also  impossible  to  say  anything  satisf actory.  Many  have  ex- 
ceeded thirty,  and  some  even  forty  years;  but,  from  ill  usage 
and  over-exertion,  many  come  to  their  end  before  they  have 
seen  nine  or  ten  years. 

Another  part  of  the  horse  must  not  be  passed  over  with- 
out especial  notice,  namely  his  foot.  This  is  a  truly  admir- 
able piece  of  mechanism,  and  deserves  to  be  well  understood. 
It  simply  consists  of  a  homy  case  or  covering  for  the  protec- 
tion of  the  sensitive  parts  within,  and  extends  from  the  ter- 
mination of  the  hair  to  the  ground.  It  is  deepest  in  front, 
where  it  is  called  the  toe,  lower  at  the  sides,  or  quarters,  and 
of  least  extent  behind  at  the  heel.  It  is  placed  in  a  sloping  or 
slanting  position,  forming  an  angle,  which,  in  the  healthy  foot 
is  about  45  degrees.  Any  deviation  from  this  is  considered  a 
defect.  If  it  is  more  oblique  than  this,  it  indicates  a  flatness 
of  the  sole,  or  even  a  protrusion  of  it  downwards,  constituting 
a  pumiced  or  convex  foot — a  very  great  evil,  as  it  exposes  the 
sole  to  bruises  or  undue  pressure.  If  the  crust  or  box  is  too 
upright,  it  indicates  a  tendency  to  contraction,  thrush,  and 
inflammation,  an  upright  pastern,  and  jolting  unpleasant  pace. 
These  are  serious  deviations  from  a  natural  state  of  the  foot, 
and  should  be  immediately  recognized  by  the  observer.  The 
crust  is  thickest  in  front,  and  becomes  gradually  thinner 
towards  the  quarters  and  heels.  This  thinness  is  greatest  on 
the  inner  quarter,  or  inner  portion  of  the  crust,  and  more 
weight  is  thrown  upon  it  than  upon  the  outer  quarter.  This 
may  seem  at  first  view  to  be  rather  singular,  but  it  is  a  wise 
provision  of  Nature,  in  order  that  the  elasticity  of  that  part 
may  be  brought  more  into  play,  and  dangerous  concussion 
lessened  or  avoided.  The  nails  are  often  driven  too  close  on 
the  inner  quarter,  the  consequence  of  which  are  corns,  con- 
traction, and  sand-crack. 

The  foot  often  varies  greatly  in  magnitude  in  proportion 
to  the  general  bulk  of  the  horse.  This  is  a  considerable 
evil  A  large  foot  not  unfrequently  becomes  objectionable 
from  its  striking  the  opposite  leg;  on  the  other  hand,  the 
large  foot  will  not  sink  so  readily  into  soft  ground,  and  con- 
sequently not  demand  so  great  an  effort  of  strength  to  extri- 
cate it.  In  general  broad  and  flat-footed  horses  possess  the 
greatest  strength;  small  and  narrow-footed  ones  have  supe- 
rior speed.  Both,  within  certain  limits,  possess  their  respective 
advantages  and  disadvantages.  Large  bulky  hoofs  are  weaker 
than  others,  in  consequence  of  being  composed  of  a  thin,  soft, 
porous  horn.  Small  feet  generally  possess  a  close-woven 


76  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

horn,  but  are  deficient  in  circularity  of  figure,  with  great 
depth  of  substance,  and  are  of  a  more  durable  nature. 

On  account  of  the  superior  weight  which  it  bears,  the  inner 
heel  wears  away  more  quickly  than  the  outer  one.  It  will 
often  be  scarcely  necessary  to  remove  any  horn  from  the 
inner  heel,  for  that  is  already  effected  by  the  wear  of  the  foot. 
The  smith  frequently  forgets  this,  and  pares  away  all  round 
with  his  butteris  or  his  knife,  and  thus,  leaving  the  inner 
quarter  lower  than  the  outer,  throws  an  uneven  bearing  upon 
it,  and  produces  corns,  sand-cracks,  splints,  and  various 
other  evils.  The  depth  of  the  horn  in  the  front  of  the  toe, 
measuring  from  the  termination  of  the  skin,  is  on  an  average 
about  three  inches  or  three  inches  and  a  half,  and  its  thick- 
ness varies  from  three-eighths  of  an  inch  to  half  an  inch:  but 
near  the  top,  and  at  the  inside,  it  is  found  to  be  scooped  or 
hollowed  out,  and  contains  or  covers  a  thickened  prolonga- 
tion, falsely  called  the  coronary  ligament,  for  it  has  no  liga- 
mentous  substance  belonging  to  it.  It  is  a  collection  of 
blood-vessels  bound  together  by  a  fibrous  texture,  and  ita 
office  is  to  supply  any  loss  of  substance  in  the  hoof  that  may 
be  occasioned  by  accident  or  disease,  and  also  to  secrete  the 
substance  of  the  wTall  or  crust  of  the  feet. 

The  crust  or  hoof  is  composed  of  fibres  running  per- 
pendicular from  the  coronet  to  the  ground  in  front,  and 
at  the  quarters,  taking  an  oblique  direction  forwards.  This 
construction  enables  the  heels  to  expand  when  they  come  in 
contact  with  the  ground,  and  this  expansion  permits  the  gra- 
dual descent  of  the  bones  of  the  feet,  and  obviates  much 
concussion.  It  is  in  order  that  this  expansion  may  readily 
take  place,  that  the  crust,  as  has  been  already  stated,  is  thin- 
nest at  the  quarters  and  towards  the  heels. 

On  the  inside  of  the  crust  are  numerous  narrow,  thin 
plates,  or  processes,  called  the  laminae,  arranged  in  the 
nicest  order,  and  with  almost  mathematical  precision.  They 
extend  parallel  to  each  other  in  a  perpendicular  direction 
from  immediately  beneath  the  coronary  ligament  to  the 
junction  of  the  wall  with  the  sole,  and  are  so  thickly  set  that 
every  part  of  the  crust  is  occupied  by  them.  They  are  like- 
wise continued  over  the  surface  of  the  bars,  of  which  mention 
will  presently  be  made.  They  are  about  500  in  number, 
broadest  at  their  base,  and  terminating  in  the  most  delicate 
expansion  of  horn.  They  correspond  with  similar  leaves  pro- 
jecting from  the  coffin-bone,  or  internal  bone  of  the  hoof,  and 
thus  present  a  most  extraordinary  superficies  for  the  attach- 
ment of  the  cofiin-bone.  The  laminae  from  the  cofiin-bone 


STUD   BOOK.  77 

and  those  from  the  hoof  form  a  complete  union,  which,  for 
strength  and  elasticity  combined,  may  vie  with  any  piece  of 
animal  mechanism  that  is  known.  It  has  been  calculated 
that  the  united  superficies  in  a  foot  of  tolerable  size  will 
yield  a  surface  of  attachment  equal  to  212  square  inches, 
or  nearly  one  square  foot  and  a  half.  This  is  a  contriv- 
ance to  prevent  concussion  which  may  well  excite  our  ad- 
miration. 

The  bars  or  processes  of  the  wall  of  the  foot,  inflected 
obliquely  across  the  bottom  of  the  foot,  along  and  outside  of 
the  frog.  The  slightest  consideration  will  show  that  their 
office  is  both  to  admit  of,  and  to  limit  to  its  proper  ex- 
tent the  expansion  of  the  foot.  When  the  weight  of  the 
animal  is  thrown  on  the  laminae,  these  arches  will  shorten 
and  widen  in  order  to  admit  of  the  expansion  of  the  quar- 
ters, and  when  that  expansive  power  ceases  to  act,  the  bar 
will  return  to  its  usual  curve,  and  the  foot  will  regain  its 
usual  form.  It  is  strange  that,  even  at  the  present  day,  the 
farriers  should  maintain  their  combination  to  get  rid  of  this 
beautiful  and  useful  contrivance  of  nature.  Although  every 
foot  from  which  the  bars  are  removed  becomes  more  or  less 
contracted  at  the  quarters,  old  prejudices  prevent  them  from 
tracing  the  connection  of  cause  and  effect  The  owner  of  the 
horse  should  lay  it  down  as  a  principle,  from  which  his  far- 
rier should  never  be  permitted  to  deviate,  that  the  bars  of 
the  foot  should  never  be  cut  away. 

The  sole  is  the  arched  plate  at  the  bottom  of  the  hoof, 
and  it  is  one  of  the  most  important  parts  of  the  foot. 
Thousands  of  horses  are  ruined  by  the  mass  of  horn  which 
is  suffered  to  accumulate  on  it,  and,  occasionally,  the  sole 
is  materially  injured  and  wounded  by  it  The  natural  thick- 
ness of  the  sole  is  about  one-sixth  of  an  inch,  but  that  which 
forms  a  union  with  the  bars  is  nearly  double  the  thickness  of 
the  other  parts.  In  its  natural  state  it  is  to  a  certain  degree 
hollow,  and  thus  it  has  the  capacity  of  descending  with  the 
weight  of  the  horse.  A  flat  sole  cannot  descend  lower. 
This,  also,  is  a  circumstance  that  the  smith  should  be  com- 
pelled to  attend  to. 

The  frog  is  the  prominent  triangular  body  occupying  the 
chasm  between  the  bars.  It  extends  forwards  towards  the 
toe,  about  two-thirds  of  the  distance  between  the  toe  and  the 
heel.  It  is  of  a  cuneiform  figure,  not  a  little  resembling  a 
ploughshare.  It  consists  of  two  rounded  or  projecting  sur- 
faces, with  a  fissure  or  cleft  between  them,  but  uniting  about 
Jialf-way  down  the  foot,  and  forming  a  wedge  with  the  sharp 


78  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

point  forwards,  in  order  to  give  security  to  the  tread  of  the 
horse.  It  assists  also  in  a  material  degree  in  the  expansion 
of  the  foot.  Thus  the  diminution  of  the  substance  of  the 
frog,  and  its  elevation  above  ground,  must  be  injurious.  The 
rough  and  detached  parts  may  be  removed,  but  the  sub- 
stance of  the  frog  should  always  be  left  just  above  or  within 
the  level  of  the  shoe. 

When  well  treated  the  horse  lives  to  a  great  age,  though 
as  treated  in  general,  his  best  years  are  from  five  to  fif- 
teen, instances,  however,  being  numerous  in  which  he  is  ser- 
viceable to  twenty  years  of  age,  and  even  longer.  An  in- 
stance is  on  record  in  which  he  reached  the  extraordinary 
age  of  seventy. 

The  senses  of  the  horse  are  acute  and  delicate,  and  his 
intellectual  character  is  marked  by  a  quick  perception,  an 
excellent  memory,  and  benevolence  of  disposition.  As  in 
man,  some  horses  are  highly  courageous,  others  timid;  some 
lively,  playful,  and  generous,  whilst  others  are  stupid,  obsti- 
nate, and  vicious.  He  is  rarely  found  to  exert  his  vast 
strength  and  activity  to  his  master's  prejudice;  on  the  con- 
trary, he  will  endure  fatigue,  even  to  death,  for  his  benefit. 
One  of  his  most  eminent  characteristics  is  that  his  efforts  are 
not  made  so  much  from  fear  of  his  master,  as  from  a  certain 
consciousness  of  the  necessity  for  doing  his  duty,  for  the 
sake  of  the  services  which  he  receives  at  the  hand  of  man. 

The  natural  affection  of  the  horse  is  not  displayed  to- 
wards man  only,  but  he  extends  his  attachment  to  other  ani- 
mals who  are  associated  with  him,  and  not  to  his  own  species 
alone,  but  to  animals  of  any  other  species.  The  fondness  of 
the  horse  for  dogs  is  well  known,  and  when  a  cat  takes  to 
the  stable,  she  is  presently  on  the  best  of  terms  with  the  in- 
mates. Horses  are  much  attached  to  a  goat,  and  this  animal 
is  hence  frequently  kept  in  a  stable,  the  result  being  much 
natural  regard  between  the  goat  and  the  horse. 

The  horse,  too,  has  his  tastes  as  well  as  his  rider.  The 
fondness  of  horses  for  music  has  been  an  observation  in  all 
ages,  and  the  bands  of  a  cavalry  regiment  have  no  little  to  do 
with  the  proud  military  bearing  of  the  regimental  horses. 
All  soldiers  know  the  delight  with  which  a  horse  listens  to  a 
military  band. 

It  was  formerly  customary,  in  order  to  improve  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  horse,  to  dock  and  nick  his  tail.  The  custom 
no  doubt  originated  with  the  same  blockheads  who  slit  the 
tongue  of  a  magpie  to  make  him  talk;  a  more  barbarous  or 
a  more  unsightly  practice  was  never  adopted,  The  pain 


STUD   BOOK.  79 

which  the  animal  suffers  in  having  his  vertebral  column  cut 
through,  and  with  it  the  medullary  substance  and  the  spinal 
cord,  is  the  most  intense  which  one  brute  can  inflict  on  an- 
other, even  though  the  inflictor  of  the  pain  be  the  brutal 
owner  of  a  horse.  The  only  defence  which  was  ever  put 
forth  in  alleviation  of  so  barbarous  a  cruelty  is,  that  the 
horse  shall  carry  his  tail  like  an  Arabian,  as  though  the  sight- 
less and  indelicate  stump,  sticking  out  of  the  hindquarters  of 
a  docked  horse,  was  anything  but  a  ridiculous  caricature  of 
the  caudal  appendage  of  the  Asiatic  horse. 

But  the  cruelty  of  docking  a  horse  or  nicking  him  does 
not  end  with  the  infliction.  The  tail  is  given  to  the  horse  by 
the  same  Providence  which  made  him,  for  the  twofold  pur- 
pose of  protecting  a  tender  part  against  cold  in  winter  and 
to  lash  off  the  flies  and  other  insects  which  torment  him  in 
summer.  Both  these  ends,  necessary  to  the  comfort  and  even 
health  of  the  horse,  are  frustrated  by  a  half-witted  ignoramus, 
who  believes  that  he  can  mend  the  works  of  the  horse's 
Maker.  To  make  the  tail  of  the  animal  more  useful  than  it 
was  intended  by  Providence  to  be,  he  renders  what  his  barbar- 
ity has  left  of  it  altogether  without  motion  of  any  kind. 

A  very  little  observation  on  the  habits  of  the  horse  would 
have  shown  the  folly  as  well  as  cruelty  of  such  a  practice. 
There  are  few  portions  of  a  horse's  body  which  he  cannot 
reach  with  his  teeth  or  his  tail,  the  latter  being  in  this  re- 
spect a  hand  to  him.  But  if  a  horse  itch  in  any  part  which 
he  cannot  reach,  he  will  go  to  another  horse,  and  bite  him  on 
the  part  which  he  himself  wants  bitten.  His  friend  will  take 
the  hint  and  perform  the  kind  office  for  him.  This  should 
hence  show  the  necessity  of  not  depriving  the  animal  of  those 
portions  of  his  body  by  which  he  can  free  himself  from 
annoyance. 


80  THE  CHANGE   COUNTY 


CHAPTER  V. 


ON  BREEDING  STOCK. 

BREEDERS  of  all  kinds  of  animals  are  unanimous  in  their 
opinions  that  it  is  necessary  to  have  distinct  varieties,  usually 
distinguished  as  thoroughbred,  for  the  propagation  of  the 
species,  whether  it  be  determined  to  carry  on  the  unblem- 
ished pedigree,  or  to  cross  with  other  breeds. 

It  is  a  general  observation  with  those  who  have  devoted 
attention  to  the  subject,  that  horses  and  mares  require  much 
time  after  they  have  been  trained,  before  they  distinguish 
themselves  as  the  progenitors  of  first-rate  stock.  This  affords 
another  argument  in  favor  of  early  training.  Both  with 
mares  and  stallions  their  best  foals  have  often  not  come  forth 
till  they  were  advanced  in  years.  According  to  the  presumed 
age  of  the  Godo'lphin  Arabian,  he  was  thirteen  years  old 
when  he  became  the  sire  of  Kegulus;  Paynator  and  Whale- 
bone were  each  of  them  twenty  years  old  when  their  sons, 
Doctor  Syntax  and  Sir  Hercules,  were  foaled.  Potoooooooo, 
Sultan,  Langar  and  Venison,  were  each  of  them  sixteeen 
years  old  when  they  became  the  sires  respectively  of  Waxy, 
Bay  Middleton,  Epirus  and  Kingston.  Melbourne  was  fif- 
teen when  he  begat  West  Australian;  Haphazard  fourteen 
when  he  was  the  sire  of  Filho  da  Puta.  OrviILe  was  the  same 
age  when  he  was  the  sire  of  Ebor,  and  twenty  when  he  be- 
got the  still  more  celebrated  Emilius;  and  an  infinity  of  sim- 
ilar examples  may  be  added.  This  property  applies  more 
generally  to  stallions  than  to  mares;  for  it  is  sometimes  ap- 
parent that  their  first  foals  are  vastly  superior  to  their  subse- 
quent produce.  This  was  the  case  in  olden  times  with  the 
dams  of  Mark  Antony,  Conductor,  Pyrrhus,  and  Pantaloon; 
and  more  recently  with  Sultan,  Touchstone,  Sir  Hercules  and 
Filho  da  Puta.  Whether  the  subsequent  change  of  partners 
has  any  prejudicial  effect  on  the  future  progeny  is  a  subject 
worthy  the  most  scrupulous  attention  of  breeders. 

It  is  curious  to  remark,  that  when  a  thoroughbred  mare 
has  once  had  foals  to  common  horses,  no  subsequent  foals 
which  she  may  have  had  by  thoroughbred  horses  have  ever 


STUD  BOOK.  81 

evinced  any  pretensions  to  racing  qualities.  There  may  be  an 
exception;  but  I  believe  I  am  correct  in  stating  that  there  is 
not. 

The  science  of  breeding  horses  is  replete  with  interest  to 
those  who  are  immediately  concerned  in  that  pursuit,  or  racing 
in  its  various  phases;  and  to  those  who  are  not,  considering  its 
importance  in  a  commercial  and  national  point  of  view,  it  can- 
not fail  to  excite  attention.  The  unanimity  which  has  presided 
over  the  progress  made  in  racing  and  breeding  for  that  pur- 
pose is  indubitable;  still  there  are  persons  disposed  to  cen- 
sure the  exciting  customs  of  the  turf,  as  conducive  to  the 
defeat  of  that  object  for  which  they  ought  to  be  framed  with 
the  most  careful  application.  In  addition  to  the  subjects  al- 
ready noticed,  it  is  frequently  argued  that  the  prevailing 
fashion  of  handicap  races,  and  light  weights  in  general,  are 
calculated  to  encourage  the  breeding  of  a  degenerate  class  of 
horses.  Here  it  must  be  observed,  that  it  is  not  in  the  power 
of  human  ingenuity  to  introduce  systems  which  are  quite 
free  from  objection.  In  whatever  may  be  advanced  in  the 
way  of  improvement,  something  occurs  to  prevent  the  attain- 
ment of  perfection.  With  respect  to  weights,  it  cannot  be 
denied  that  the  custom  of  carrying  high  weights  prevailed 
with  our  ancestors  very  materially  over  the  usages  of  modern 
times;  but  without  investigating  the  fact,  many  persons  enter- 
tain an  opinion  that  it  was  an  universal  practice;  which,  how- 
ever, is  a  mistake. 

It  is  not  because  these  facts  are  mentioned,  that  the  pre- 
vailing custom  of  running  at  very  light  weights  can  be  de- 
fended, for  the  racing  community  has  fallen  into  a  very  great 
extreme,  more  prejudicial  on  other  accounts,  than  with  re- 
fence  to  its  influence  on  any  presumed  degeneration  of  the 
race-horse. 

That  higher  scales  of  weights  than  those  which  are  gener- 
ally adopted  would  be  conducive  to  the  interest  of  all  parties 
there  cannot  exist  a  doubt,  and  many  of  the  best  and  most 
enlightened  patrons  of  the  turf  concur  with  the  opinion; 
but  it  is  a  subject  over  which  it  is  difficult  to  exercise  any 
control 

For  all  purposes,  except  that  of  draught,  fifteen  hands 
two  inches  is  the  most  desirable,  an  inch  over  or  under  in- 
cluded. There  is  a  standard  of  excellence  which  regulates 
the  stature  of  all  animals;  that  exceeded  or  not  attained,  the 
acme  of  perfection  is  wanting.  It  is  unnecessary  to  remind 
those  who  are  intimately  acquainted  with  racing  that  no 
undersized  horse,  that  is,  one  not  exceeding  fourteen  hands, 


82  THE   ORANGE  COUNTY 

however  well  bred  he  may  be,  has  the  slightest  chance  in  a 
race  with  a  horse  of  fair  pretensions,  a  hand  and  a  half 
higher,  with  proportionate  power  and  muscular  symmetry. 
The  average  race-horses  of  the  present  day  are  far  superior, 
in  consequence  of  the  improvements  made  in  their  size  and 
power.  This  has  been  accomplished  by  selecting  those  to 
breed  from  which  have  established  a  fame  on  the  turf,  or  near 
relatives  to  them;  and  those  which,  being  well  bred,  from 
their  power  and  symmetry  present  reasonable  expectations 
of  producing  foals  of  value.  To  this  may  be  added  good  and 
suitable  nourishment,  and  a  climate  highly  congenial  to  the 
constitution  of  the  equine  tribe.  The  partisans  of  the  ancient 
worthies  contend,  that  although  low  in  stature,  they  were 
superior  in  those  proportions  which  gave  them  power — an 
inference  which  cannot  be  established.  Length  is  an  essen- 
tial auxiliary  to  racing  properties,  and  an  animal  only  four- 
teen hands  high,  with  the  length  and  substance  of  one  fifteen 
hands  two  inches,  would  be  out  of  all  proportion. 

The  most  talented  and  successful  breeders  of  horses 
during  the  present  century,  thoroughly  convinced  of  the  impro- 
priety of  breeding  from  families  nearly  related,  have  scrupu- 
lously avoided  it. 

To  determine  by  the  external  appearance  of  a  horse  on  the 
qualifications  he  may  possess,  or  what  he  may  be  able  to  per- 
form, is  an  exercise  of  judgment  with  which  the  most  expe- 
rienced are  not  endowed.  Appearances  are  so  fallacious,  that 
the  most  skillful  will  find  themselves  mistaken;  this  applies 
both  to  racing  and  breeding,  therefore,  much  must  be  left  to 
future  development.  If  breeding  horses  could  be  reduced  to 
a  system  like  a  sum  in  arithmetic,  or  an  operation  in  chem- 
istry, there  would  be  an  end  to  speculation,  and  the  exciting 
interest  with  which  it  is  accompanied  would  be  wanting. 
It  is  not  to  be  inferred  from  this  that  chance  presides  unre- 
servedly over  its  destinies,  far  from  it;  there  may  be  and  are 
some  extraordinary  incidents  which  occasionally  embellish  it 
with  something  akin  to  that  character,  but  they  are  the 
exceptions,  and  not  the  rule.  Those  who  take  the  most 
pains  to  investigate  causes  and  effects  will  be  most  successful 
in  the  enterprise  of  breeding  horses.  Temper  is  a  qualifica- 
tion of  great  importance,  and  this  expression  must  be  accepted 
with  a  comprehensive  meaning;  not  simply  to  convey  the 
idea  of  docility,  but  the  combined  attributes  of  courage,  or 
good-will  to  exert  the  physical  powers  to  the  utmost  extent; 
and  in  proportion  as  a  horse  is  gifted  with  physical  capabil- 
ities and  the  will  to  exert  them,  so  will  he  maintain  a  position 


STUD  BOOK.  Od 

among  his  class.  There  are  instances  of  horses  being 
endowed  with  perfect  symmetry,  great  power,  and  the  most 
exquisite  action,  all  of  which  is  of  no  avail,  because  they  do 
not  also  possess  the  energy  to  give  effect  to  those  good  qual- 
ities. 

This  subject  affords  a  very  expansive  field  for  observation, 
although  it  is  one  which  breeders  seldom  take  into  considera- 
tion.    It  is  the  presence  of  an  equivalent  portion  of  nervous 
excitability  of  the  brain  and  nervous  system,  influencing  the 
muscles  of  locomotion  with  physical  power,  which  combine 
to  establish  the  perfection  of  endurance.      If  the  nervous  ex- 
citability be  in  excess,  and  the  animal  is  gifted  with  good 
action,  speed  will  be  his/b?*fe.     This  is  manifest,  because  the 
exciting  energies  of  the  nervous  system  exhaust  the  muscular 
powers  too  quickly  to  enable  the  animal  to  continue  beyond 
a  short  distance.     If  again  those  proportions  of  nervous  ex- 
citability be  slightly  wanting,  and  the  horse  has  a  powerful 
muscular  conformation,  his  energies  may  be  aroused  to  a 
certain  extent  by  artificial  means.     Here  much  discrimination 
in  the  rider  is  necessary,  otherwise  the  object  is  defeated. 
But  if  with  great  muscular  power  the  nervous  energies  are 
extremely  deficient,  the  animal  will  be  of  little  value.       This 
may  to  some  extent  afford  a  reason  why  very  large  horses  are 
seldom  very  good  ones.     The  two  essentials,  the  will  and  the 
power,  must  exist  in  all  horses  which  perform  extraordinary 
feats.     The  most  competent  judges  are  not  able  to  decide 
upon  the  merits  of  a  horse  until  those  merits  are  tried.     A 
moderately  experienced  person  can  determine  if  the  essential 
points,  such  as  the  shoulders,  back,  loins,  and  quarters  are  in 
conformity  with   the  generally    acknowledged   opinions  of 
symmetry;  he  can  tell  also  the  animal  being  in  working  con- 
dition, if  he  shows  a  fine  development  of  muscle  and  sinew; 
and  the  action  will  afford  a  fair  criterion  whereby  to  judge  if 
the  muscles,  sinews,  and  levers  be  proportioned  to  each  other; 
but  no  one  can  tell  whether  the  horse  possesses  the  energetic 
wih1  to  put  all  his  powers  into  effect  until  he  is  tried,  for 
whatever  purpose  he  may  be  adapted.       To  convey  evidence 
upon  this  point  the  head  is  the  most  important  organ.      In 
favorable  cases  the  contours  are  agreeably  traced,  the  lines 
are  most  beautifully  developed,  with  a  fine  expressive  eye, 
full  of  vigor  and  energy.      But  these  signs  may  be  fallacious; 
they  may  indicate  a  choleric,  fiery  temper,  impatient  of  reason- 
able control,  which  will  occasion  the  speedy  prostration  of  the 
muscular  system.     At  the  same  time  that  a  neat,  light,  well- 
formed  head,  may  generally  be  considered  as  indicating  supe- 


84  THE  ORANGE   COtJNTY 

rior  corporeal  powers:  a  dull,  heavy,  sullen  aspect  is  a  pretty 
r<  ure  index  of  the  reverse.  The  spinal  marrow  which  passes 
through  the  whole  length  of  the  vertabrse  is  the  vital  cause  of 
muscular  motion,  and  from  it  the  nerves  issue.  This  spinal 
marrow  is  a  continuation  of  the  posterior  portion  of  the  brain, 
and  as  all  this  wonderful  and  beautiful  machinery  is  entirely 
hidden  from  inspection,  the  fallacy  of  judging  from  external 
appearances  is  readily  explained.  Racing  is  the  medium 
through  which  these  characteristics  are  discovered;  and 
breeders  will  find  it  to  their  advantage  to  investigate  mi- 
nutely on  which  side  the  balance  preponderates,  whether  it 
be  in  favor  of  the  will  or  the  power.  By  this  some  of  the 
uncertainty  connected  with  the  speculation  of  breeding 
horses  will  be  overcome.  If  the  sire  be  of  very  energetic 
temper,  he  is  a  good  cross  for  a  mare  possessing  power, 
with  a  dull,  phlegmatic  disposition.  Those  who  have 
devoted  their  attention  to  the  many  interesting  subjects  con- 
nected with  the  racing  career  and  lineage  of  the  equine  race, 
are  aware  that  the  most  valuable  qualities  that  the  horse  can 
display  will  sometimes  lie  dormant  through  a  generation  or 
more,  and  then  burst  forth  with  renewed  distinction.  There 
can  be  no  doubt  that  this  is  occasioned  by  a  deficiency  of  the 
exciting  force  or  energy  of  the  brain  and  nervous  system 
which  influences  the  muscles  of  locomotion — for  that  is  the 
power  which  moves  the  machinery.  This  inestimable  faculty 
may  be  affected  and  sadly  deranged  by  accidental  causes  or 
injudicious  treatment.  If  an  animal  be  frequently  and 
seriously  alarmed  or  punished,  it  will  have  a  marked  and 
visible  effect  upon  the  nervous  system.  This  will  influence 
the  muscular  powers,  and  render  them  incapable  of  merely 
slight  exertion.  This  is  exemplified  by  the  animal  breaking 
out  into  profuse  perspiration.  Rational  modes  of  treating 
young  horses  are  by  far  more  generally  known  and  practiced 
than  they  were  only  twenty  years  ago.  The  ordeal  which 
many  of  them  had  to  undergo  in  bygone  days  in  the  hands  of 
inconsiderate  persons,  for  the  purpose  of  preparing  them  to 
run  for  early  engagements,  was  well  calculated  to  raise  an 
outcry  against  the  practice  of  training  them  at  two  years  old. 
Even  the  probationary  exercise  of  lunging  was  carried  often 
to  an  excess  prejudicial  and  dangerous  to  the  nervous  sytem, 
the  muscular  powers,  and  the  delicate  texture  of  joints  and 
tendons.  A  moment's  reflection  will  determine,  that  if  a 
young  animal,  or  indeed  one  of  mature  age,  be  wantonly  ex- 
cited to  perform  so  much  labor  as  to  occasion  exhaustion  of 
the  muscular  powers,  the  sympathy  existing  between  the 


STUD   BOOK.  85 

muscular  and  nervous  system  will  interfere  to  restrain  such 
aggressions  in  future.  The  more  we  scrutinize  the  elaborate 
and  beautiful  works  of  nature,  the  more  we  must  admire  the 
wonderful  order  by  which  they  are  regulated.  If  one  portion 
of  the  animal  frame  in  its  influence  over  another  subdues, 
distresses,  or  injures  it,  some  superior  faculty  interposes  to 
keep  the  machinery  in  order.  Thus,  in  the  event  of  extreme 
exhaustion,  the  muscular  powers  of  the  animal  having  been 
set  in  motion  by  the  brain  and  nervous  system,  man  in  his 
ignorance,  by  over-exciting  the  nervous  system,  causes  the 
muscles  to  be  excited  beyond  the  limits  of  convenience  and 
reason.  The  brain  and  nervous  system  participate  in  this, 
being  the  primary  agent  acted  upon,  and  in  its  turn  acting 
upon  the  body,  of  which  it  forms  a  part,  on  a  future  occasion 
declines  to  exert  itself;  in  a  word,  the  generous  temper  and 
high  courage  which  previously  adorned  the  victim  is  dispirited 
and  broken.  If,  however,  the  nervous  system  be  more  highly 
gifted,  so  that  it  overcomes  the  muscular  powers,  the  poor 
creature  becomes  emaciated  and  weak,  losing  its  condition 
sometimes  without  an  apparent  cause. 

The  great  difference  which  is  on  most  occasions  apparent 
in  the  condition  of  the  stud-horse,  and  the  brood  mares, 
requires  a  passing  comment.  The  former  is  generally  in  the 
highest  state  of  excitement,  his  spirits  bounding  with  gay 
delight,  so  that  he  can  hardly  be  restrained  within  moderate 
subjection  to  the  control  of  his  attendant.  This  is  the  result 
of  high  keep  and  the  natural  temperament  of  the  animal 
But  how  different  the  appearance  of  the  poor  mare — she  is 
comparatively  in  woeful  plight — she  is  seldom  seen  bounding 
in  playful  or  joyous  mood,  but  is  seemingly  contemplating, 
with  careworn  anxiety,  the  troubles  of  a  matron.  To  some 
extent  this  is  a  state  natural  to  the  pregnant  female,  but  in 
many  instances  it  is  increased  by  the  quality  of  the  food, 
which  principally  consists  of  grass.  The  keep  of  horses  and 
mares  requires  to  be  more  nearly  assimilated  in  order  to 
render  more  certain  the  state  of  pregnancy,  and  more  perfect 
the  condition  of  the  foetus.  Part  of  the  food  which  the  mare 
consumes  is  destined  to  afford  nourishment  to  her  embryo 
offspring,  and  like  herself,  it  will  have  imparted  to  it  some  of 
the  properties  of  that  food;  it  is  therefore  most  important 
that  the  nutriment  which  she  receives  should  be  of  that  kind 
which  is  calculated  to  establish  a  vigorous  constitution. 

The  judicious  selection  of  proper  crosses  is  one  of  the  most 
momentous  considerations  connected  with  the  management  of 
a  breeding  stud.  An  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  proper- 


86  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

ties  and  propensities  of  the  different  families  of  the  thorough- 
bred horse  can  only  be  attained  by  constant  attention  and 
careful  comparisons  of  results,  and  whoever  enters  on  the 
costly  speculation  without  having  minutely  investigated  these 
matters,  does  so  with  very  little  more  than  chance  to  befriend 
him.  In  making  purchases  of  untried  racing  stock  it  is 
equally  essential  To  those  who  speculate  upon  racing  ven- 
tures it  is  a  subject  of  no  mean  importance,  for  it  will  enable 
them  to  draw  valuable  inferences  with  reference  to  dark 
horses.  The  crosses  which  have  from  time  to  time  been  most 
eminently  successful  speak  for  themselves  in  the  respective 
pedigrees  of  horses  of  celebrity;  to  attempt  to  enumerate 
them  would  be  an  irksome  and  unprofitable  task.  When  a 
mare  has  terminated  her  career  on  the  turf  she  is  very  com- 
monly consigned  to  the  stud;  in  many  instances  without 
considering  her  worth  in  that  department.  Thus  a  vast  number 
of  foals  are  produced,  many  of  which  occasion  disappointment. 
This  is  a  difficulty  which  cannot  readily  be  overcome;  for 
the  question  arises,  "  What  defects  ought  to  exclude  a  mare 
from  the  stud?"  Constitutional  unsoundness  and  hereditary 
infirmities,  no  doubt;  but  beyond  these,  where  is  the  line 
to  be  drawn?  "Unwilling  to  sell  a  mare  for  a  trifling  sum, 
the  owner  very  often  reconciles  himself  with  the  flattering 
excuse  that  she  possesses  or  inherits  some  sterling  qualities 
which  may  descend  to  her  progeny. 

It  must  be  confessed  that  there  are  too  many  mares  used 
for  breeding  which  are  unworthy  of  the  honor;  but,  again,  it 
must  be  remembered  that  the  produce,  in  due  time,  has  to 
undergo  the  refining  process  through  the  medium  of  that 
inquisitive  crucible,  the  race-course,  which  assists  in  some 
measure  in  the  extirpation  of  weeds.  Worthless  fillies,  the 
produce  of  worthless  parents,  may,  in  the  possession  of  some 
persons,  go  on  for  a  time ;  but  there  are  few  who  do  not  soon 
become  weary  of  breeding  such  rubbish.  Thus  there  is  aji 
antidote  to  the  evil.  If  the  facilities  for  breeding  inferior 
stock  were  confined  to  the  females,  the  consequences  would  be 
unimportant;  but  unfortunately  it  extends  to  the  males.  It 
appears  to  be  an  irreconcilable  contradiction  that  the  pub- 
lic, who  have  to  pay  for  the  services  of  a  horse,  would  ever 
patronize  one  unless  he  was  eminent  for  his  good  qualities; 
neither  will  judicious  and  experienced  breeders  ever  fall  into 
that  error;  but  there  are  young  beginners  who  do,  and  thus 
it  is  that  animals  which  never  ought  to  be  permitted  to  per- 
petuate their  species  keep  up  a  race  distinguished  for  bad 
properties.  These  errors  are  committed  only  by  a  small  pro- 


BOOK.  87 

portion  of  those  who  embark  in  the  speculation,  and,  there- 
fore, the  injury  sustained  is  more  the  loss  of  money  to  the 
individuals  than  any  deterioration  in  the  national  character 
of  the  horse. 

There  is  a  mistake  into  which  some  of  the  most  extensive, 
and  it  may  be  added,  highly  experienced  breeders  have 
fallen,  that  of  not  selecting  a  suitable  partner  for  each  mare. 
A  stud  of  mares  is  got  together,  and  they  may  be  unexcep- 
tionable; a  stallion  is  purchased,  and  he  may  be  of  the  very 
best  blood,  altogether  the  most  perfect  animal  of  his  day, 
and  yet  there  may  be  some  mares,  indeed  several  out  of  a 
number,  from  which  it  cannot  reasonably  be  expected  that 
the  produce  will  be  highly  valuable.  Setting  aside  the  con- 
tingency of  consanguinity  presenting  a  rational  impediment, 
there  are  many  circumstances  which  ought  to  be  considered 
as  a  bar  to  the  union.  Great  disproportion  of  size  may  be 
one.  Although  it  is  held  as  a  principle,  and  no  doubt  is  a 
good  one,  to  correct  any  imperfections  which  are  possessed 
by  one  parent  by  the  superiority  of  those  particular  points 
in  the  other,  attempts  to  rectify  diminutive  stature  by  the 
other  extreme  are  generally  productive  of  disappointment. 
The  increased  size  to  which  the  English  thoroughbred-horse 
has  been  brought  has  been  accomplished  by  degrees,  and 
Nature  is  jealous  of  having  her  handiwork  outraged  by  ex- 
cess Disproportion  in  some  of  the  limbs  is  commonly 
the  result  when  great  disparity  of  size  characterizes  the  pa- 
rents If  either  the  horse  or  the  mare  be  defective  in  the 
shoulders,  it  should  be  determined  that  the  other  must  be 
unexceptionable  in  that  respect;  the  same  distinction  applies 
to  the  back,  loins,  quarters,  thighs,  hocks,  and  legs.  There 
are  some  breeders  who  regard  with  insignificance  the  perfec- 
tions of  their  mares,  relying  upon  the  merits  of  the  horse  for 
the  perfection  of  the  produce  ;  but,  to  say  the  least  of  it,  it 
is  a  most  hazardous  conception.  It  has  been  already  re- 
marked, that  mares  which  have  distinguished  themselves  most 
successfully  on  the  turf,  have,  in  many  instances,  failed  to 
produce  foals  of  any  value;  and  it  has  very  frequently  oc- 
curred that  mares  which  have  only  run  a  few  races  have  been 
most  successful  in  the  stud.  Very  high  prices  have  occasion- 
ally been  given  for  mares  to  breed  from,  in  consequence  of 
the  celebrity  they  have  attained  on  the  turf;  but  there  are 
scarcely  any  examples  of  their  having  compensated  the  pur- 
chasers. The  most  valuable  mares  for  the  purpose  are,  un- 
doubtedly, those  which  have  bred  runners;  and,  if  their  cost 
price  is  high,  they  generally  remunerate  the  enterprising 


88  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

speculators  by  the  superiority  of  their  offspring.  There  is  a 
great  advantage  attendant  upon  breeding  from  a  mare  whose 
produce  has  been  tried  in  public,  as  by  that  means  some  of 
the  characteristic  faculties  of  her  produce  may  be  known, 
and  which  will  afford  a  valuable  criterion  in  the  selection  of 
the  horse  which  is  to  become  the  sire  of  a  succeeding  foal. 
It  appears  to  be  a  property  inherent  in  some  mares  to  breed 
all,  or  nearly  all,  their  foals  endowed  with  the  same  propen- 
sities, although  the  propensities  of  these  foals  differ  from  her 
own.  Thus,  a  mare  may  be  gifted  with  great  stoutness,  and 
her  foals  more  celebrated  for  speed;  and  there  are  also  ex- 
amples of  speedy  mares  having  bred  foals  which  have  proved 
particularly  stout. 

The  success  of  a  breeding  stud  will  be  regulated  to  a  very 
considerable  extent  by  the  judgment  which  is  exercised  in 
the  selection  of  mares.  There  are  many  which  are  consid- 
ered very  well  bred,  which  are  by  no  means  desirable  ani- 
mals to  breed  from.  It  may  be  urged  that  a  thorough-bred 
mare  cannot  be  otherwise^than  well  bred;  but  her  lineage 
may  go  back  to  ancestors*of  unworthy  pretensions,  and  on 
that  account  she  may  not  be  suitable  for  the  purpose.  She 
may  also  possess  hereditary  blemishes,  either  in  person  or  in 
pedigree,  which,  unfortunately,  more  frequently  develop  them- 
selves than  the  highest  classes  of  perfections.  Action  is  an 
accomplishment  which  in  general  does  not  command  the 
attention  it  deserves.  In  racing,  providing  a  horse  gets  his 
head  first  past  the  winning-post,  no  one  would  care  whether 
it  were  accomplished  by  the  most  uniform  and  exquisite 
motion  of  the  limbs,  or  whether  it  could  be  performed  by  an 
entertaining  succession  of  somersaults.  The  qualities  which 
win  fame  on  a  race-course  are  speed  and  endurance,  no 
thought  is  bestowed  in  what  manner  the  propeUing  power  is 
effected;  and  these  propelling  powers  are  sometimes  com- 
bined with  very  indifferent  action.  This  in  a  race-horse,  so 
long  as  his  services  are  confined  to  the  turf,  is  a  considera- 
tion of  no  importance;  he  may  be  valuable  for  that  purpose, 
be  his  action  ever  so  faulty;  but  in  the  stud  it  becomes  a 
very  different  affair.  Action  is  very  commonly  entailed  upon 
the  offspring,  more  frequently  than  speed  and  stoutness,  to 
which  good  action  is  generally  an  important  improvement. 
It  can  scarcely  admit  of  a  doubt,  that  the  failure  which  has 
attended  many  horses  and  mares  which  have  been  good  run- 
ners themselves,  but  which  have  produced  very  inferior 
stock,  may  be  in  many  instances  traced  to  defective  action. 
The  conformation  which  conduces  principally  to  this  perfec- 


STUD  BOOK.  89 

tion  for  racing  depends  greatly  on  the  hind  legs,  the  thighs, 
the  back,  and  the  loins;  from  the  shoulders  the  motive  power 
of  the  fore  legs  proceeds.  For  racing  purposes,  the  quality 
of  the  fore  legs  is  not  of  equal  importance  as  in  those  ani- 
mals which  are  destined  for  hunters,  or  riding  horses.  This 
opinion  is  evidently  maintained  by  many  of  the  most  experi- 
enced breeders  for  the  turf;  because  they  continue  to  breed 
from  horses  in  whom  this  failing  is  hereditary.  So  long  as 
the  shoulders  are  gifted  with  the  power  of  free  action,  and 
the  fore  legs  are  sufficient  to  act  as  props  to  the  machinery,  by 
the  aid  of  boots,  bandages,  and  such  like  appendages,  the 
legs  may  be  kept  in  tolerable  order  for  a  time,  and  enable  a 
horse  to  run  for  his  early  engagements.  But  yet  to  how 
much  anxiety,  and  often  loss,  does  this  imperfection  subject 
the  owner.  There  is  a  constant  apprehension  that  the  legs 
will  fail  Every  sweat,  every  gallop  which  a  horse  with 
infirm  legs  takes,  in  his  preparation,  excites  his  owner  to 
nervous  trepidation,  fearing  that  a  break-down  may  be  the 
consequence.  In  racing  the  anxiety  is  still  greater.  No  pru- 
dent man  likes  to  encounter  the  additional  risk  of  backing 
his  horse  for  a  race  when  the  legs  are  of  defective  quality. 
The  effect  is  often  extensive,  and  is  not  restricted  to  actual 
lameness,  or  breaking  down.  Horses  which  have  weak  fore  legs 
will  tire  in  those  limbs  before  they  experience  distress  in 
other  parts  of  their  frames;  this,  of  "course,  affects  their  run- 
ning and  occasions  their  defeat. 

There  is  a  certain  refinement  of  form,  a  gracefulness  of 
outline,  an  elegance  of  motion  and  aristocratic  bearing,  char- 
acteristic of  a  high-bred  mare,  which  merits  distinction. 
Breeders  often  show  a  great  predilection  for  what  they  term 
fine,  large,  roomy  mares;  they  are  often  pertinaciously  un- 
certain in  their  produce;  one  year  their  foal  is  undersized, 
and  the  succeeding  one  it  is  overgrown.  The  Arabs  are  said 
to  attach  more  importance  to  the  perfections  of  their  mares 
than  to  those  of  their  horses.  English  breeders  might  take 
a  profitable  example  in  this  respect  from  them.  They  fre- 
quently breed  from  inferior  mares,  at  all  events,  some  whose 
merits  have  not  been  tried;  but  very  rarely,  indeed,  from 
horses  which  have  not  gained  some  reputation  on  the  course, 
let  their  pedigrees  be  ever  so  pure  and  unexceptionable.  In 
the  early  days  of  breeding  it  was  by  no  means  an  uncommon 
practice.  The  only  modern  instance  of  an  untried  race-horse 
gaining  repute  in  the  stud  was  that  of  Defence.  The  high 
premiums  paid  for  the  services  of  stallions  of  fame,  and 
which  breeders  are  willing  to  pay,  affords  convincing  proof 


90  THE   ORANGE   COtTNTY 

of  the  importance  which  is  attached  to  the  sire.  In  England 
horses  of  very  great  pretensions  are  patronized  at  £50  each 
mare,  descending  to  £10  as  the  minimum  for  sires  of  re- 
spectable eminence.  At  the  present  day  the  number  of  stal- 
lions is  considerably  above  the  average  of  former  years, 
which  tends  to  a  diminution  of  charges  even  of  first-rate 
horses;  and  as  they  descend  in  the  scale  of  estimation  the 
reduction  is  more  conspicuous.  This  is  a  fact  which  cannot 
be  regarded  in  any  but  a  fortuitous  aspect;  being  a  greater 
number,  there  is  a  greater  variety,  and  a  more  copious  field 
for  choice.  When  we  examine  the  question  as  to  the  influ- 
ence of  the  sires,  compared  with  the  dams,  on  the  breed  of 
horses,  the  increase  in  the  number  of  the  former  must  be  ac- 
cepted in  a  most  favorable  position. 

That  the  object  of  promoting  a  breed  of  sound,  useful, 
powerful  horses  was  not  accomplished  by  deviations  from  the 
customs  of  legitimate  racing,  is  well  known  to  all  who  have 
devoted  their  attention  to  the  passing  events  on  the  turf  dur- 
ing the  last  twenty  years.  In  every  instance  they  have  had 
an  adverse  tendency.  There  is  not  an  example  in  the  annals 
of  racing  of  a  bonajide  half-bred  horse,  that  could  defeat  a 
good  thorough-bred  one  of  the  same  age,  at  high  weights,  over 
any  distance  of  ground  from  two  to  four  miles;  and  the  great- 
er the  distance,  and  the  higher  the  weights,  more  conclusive 
have  been  the  results  in  favor  of  blood. 

There  is  a  circumstance  which  must  not  be  omitted  in 
connection  with  breeding  half-bred  horses,  as  it  may  serve  as 
a  beacon  for  other  purposes.  The  most  superior  produce 
always  resulted  from  the  mare  which  was  not  thorough-bred, 
and  the  highest-bred  horse.  This  principle  is  likewise  ac- 
knowledged by  the  breeders  of  all  other  kinds  of  stock,  whether 
cattle  or  sheep;  and  it  is  a  subject  of  great  importance  to 
those  who  breed  hunters  and  first-class  riding  horses.  It 
leads  to  the  conviction  that  the  thorough-bred  horse,  from 
the  great  care  that  has  been,  from  time  to  time,  bestowed  in 
the  selection  of  the  choicest  subjects,  has  now  become  a  more 
highly-bred  animal  than  the  Arab,  from  which  he  was  origin- 
ally descended.  This  may  afford  another  explanation  to 
causes  already  named  why  the  produce  from  Arabian  horses 
and  English  thorough-bred  mares  are  so  utterly  worthless. 
The  results  might  be  more  favorable  through  the  agency  of 
Arabian  mares  with  English  horses.  It  was  the  opinion  of 
the  late  Earl  Spencer,  who,  all  the  world  is  aware,  devoted 
great  attention  to  the  breeding  of  domestic  animals,  that  the 
influence  which  each  parent  exercises  over  its  progeny  is  in 


STUD  BOOK.  91 

proportion  to  the  antiquity  and  purity  of  the  race  to  which  it 
belongs.  This  theory  may  now  be  said  to  have  received  prac- 
tical proof,  and  to  be  generally  acknowledged. 

From  the  numerous  facts  which  have  been  advanced,  each 
bearing  upon  the  most  important  points,  we  must  come  to 
the  conclusion  that  the  progressive  increase  of  racing  and 
breeding  horses  for  that  purpose  has  led  to  unequivocal  im- 
provement; and  it  is  clearly  manifest  that  the  horses  of  the 
present  day  are  superior  to  their  predecessors  in  size,  power, 
speed,  and  endurance.  The  augmentation  of  their  numbers 
is  unmistakeable  evidence  of  the  interest  attached  to  the  two- 
fold enterprise.  We  may  now  take  up  another  engagement, 
equally,  perchance  more  inviting,  interesting,  and  familiar  to 
the  public,  that  of  breeding  horses  for  hunting,  riding,  driv- 
ing, and  other  useful  purposes.  The  assertion  has  been 
made,  and  it  cannot  be  rebutted,  that  the  supply  is  unequal  to 
the  demand.  However,  we  have  the  pure  source  from  which 
they  may  be  produced  in  great  numbers,  inadequate  though 
they  may  be  to  the  requirements  of  the  nation,  but  having 
the  material,  it  is  only  incumbent  upon  us  to  bring  it  into 
effect  upon  the  most  advantageous  terms. 

The  eye  delights  to  feast  upon  that  which  is  symmetrical 
and  beautiful  There  is  no  creature  in  the  universe,  the  fair 
portion  of  the  human  race  excepted,  in  which  the  lines  of 
beauty  are  so  exquisitely  denned  as  they  are  in  a  well-shaped 
horse.  Whether  we  behold  him  in  an  easy  graceful  action, 
bounding  over  the  elastic  turf;  boldly  facing  the  opposing 
barrier  which  disputes  his  progress  in  the  chase;  proudly 
stepping  (perchance  with  a  fair  burden  upon  his  back)  in  the 
park:  or  gayly  and  gorgeously  caparisoned  with  the  para- 
phernalia of  the  battle-field;  in  either  instance  we  admire  him 
for  his  swiftness,  his  activity,  his  docility,  and  his  unflinching 
courage.  Whether  the  amount  of  discrimination  be  great  or 
little  with  which  any  individual,  gentle  or  simple,  may  be 
gifted,  nothing  occasions  a  friend  or  acquaintance  greater 
offence  than  an  insinuation  that  his  judgment  in  horseflesh 
is  deficient.  This  for  general  purposes  is  a  little  species  of 
self-vanity,  which  may  be  unimportant,  at  least  so  long  as  it 
is  confined  to  purchasing;  but  when  deficiency  of  judgment 
is  exercised  in  breeding,  it  becomes  a  different  affair.  A 
worthless  produce  is  not  only  an  individual  loss  but  a  public 
misfortune.  There  are  many  who  are  very  fair  judges  of 
horses  when  they  are  in  fit  condition  to  be  put  to  work 
who  are  totally  at  a  loss  when  they  attempt  to  form  opinions 
on  breeding,  or  concerning  young  horses  which  are  promising 


92  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

to  become  valuable  animals.  Almost  every  individual  who 
has  made  the  horse  his  thesis  for  writing,  has  given  a  de- 
scription of  the  essential  points  which  every  animal  must  be 
gifted  with  that  lays  claim  to  excellence.  It  is  a  worn-out 
and  unprofitable  subject  to  dilate  upon.  Practice  alone  will 
make  an  adept  in  this  art.  To  be  a  thoroughly  good  judge 
of  horses  is  an  invaluable  acquirement  to  the  breeder,  and  it 
is  indispensable  to  him  if  he  is  ambitious  of  eminence  and 
profit.  The  first  considerations  in  making  selections  of  horses 
and  mares  for  the  purpose  of  breeding  riding-horses,  will  be 
to  determine  whether  they  are  likely  to  produce  foals  which 
will  be  powerful,  active,  hardy,  and  sound.  If  bulk  were 
most  conducive  to  perfection,  the  most  valuable  animal 
would  be  the  gigantic  cart-horse,  but  his  great  size  and  weight 
is  accompanied  with  slowness  of  motion,  and  a  dull,  phlegmatic 
temperament.  The  nature  of  the  substances  of  which  he  is 
composed  is  conducive  to  these  characteristics.  The  bone  is 
far  more  porous  than  that  of  a  well-bred  horse,  and  the 
muscles  are  of  a  more  flaccid  texture.  There  is  a  greater  con- 
stitutional disposition  to  deposit  fat  in  the  cart-horse,  and 
his  want  of  activity  renders  him  incapable  of  accelerated 
motion.  These  defects  generally  diminish  in  degree  as  the 
animal  approaches  to  a  more  aristocratic  lineage;  and  the 
most  valuable  kinds  to  choose  for  breeding  are  those  which 
evince  the  greatest  amount  of  muscular  power,  with  sym- 
metrical proportion,  short  legs,  and  a  good  pedigree. 

Every  person  who  enters  into  the  speculation  of  breeding 
horses  undoubtedly  does  so  with  a  view  to  profit;  next  to  breed- 
ing for  the  turf,  his  object  will  be  to  produce  saleable  horses 
gifted  with  the  most  valuable  properties.  No  man,  however 
good  his  judgment  may  be,  can  at  all  times  feel  certain  that 
his  mare  will  favor  him  with  the  object  of  his  wishes.  With 
the  first  object  in  view,  it  is  necessary  that  the  mares  be 
adapted  to  the  desired  intention,  and  some  difficulty  exists  in 
procuring  them.  There  is  a  greater  difficulty  at  the  present 
period  in  procuring  desirable  mares  to  breed  from  than  there 
was  in  by-gone  days,  when  fashion  was  opposed  to  riding 
mares;  that  prejudice  has  been  overcome,  because  it  has 
been  determined  that  mares  are  generally  superior  to  geld- 
ings in  constitution  and  endurance.  It  is  a  common  opinion, 
but  a  great  error,  that  very  large  mares  are  the  most  eligible 
to  breed  from,  they  are  of  all  animals  the  most  uncertain  in 
their  produce;  one  year  they  will  present  their  owner  with 
gigantic  foals,  and  perchance  the  following  year  with  others 
as  much  undersized;  they  seldom  observe  the  happy  medium; 


STUD  BOOK.  93 

and  it  is  from  selecting  great,  loose-made,  leggy  mares  for 
this  purpose,  that  we  have  too  many  horses  of  that  descrip- 
tion in  the  fairs. 

Those  conformations,  or  more  emphatically  speaking,  ana- 
tomical proportions,  which  are  conducive  to  the  utmost  degree 
of  speed  in  the  race-horse,  are  not  in  general  the  most  eligible 
for  other  purposes,  such  as  riding,  or  harness-work.  From 
this  cause  it  frequently  happens  that  stallions,  which  have 
been  most  successful  as  the  progenitors  of  racing  stock,  have 
not  gained  equal  renown  as  sires  of  horses  of  inferior  classes; 
and,  vice  versa,  many  horses  which  have  been  the  sires  of  cele- 
brated hacks  have  been  nearly  worthless  in  the  racing  harem. 
This  is  a  fortunate  circumstance  for  the  generality  of  breeders, 
as  it  enables  them  to  procure  the  services  of  really  useful 
sires  at  a  more  reasonable  rate. 

The  custom  occasionally  adopted  by  agriculturists  of 
breeding  foals  from  three-year-old  fillies  before  they  are 
broken,  is,  upon  general  principles,  a  questionable  policy, 
but  under  certain  circumstances  it  may  be  rendered  justifi- 
able. 4 

Comparing  the  thorough-bred  horse  with  the  cart-horse, 
we  are  scarcely  able  to  reconcile  our  ideas  with  the  fact,  that 
they  are  varieties  of  the  same  species  of  animal,  so  great  is 
the  distinction  between  them  in  their  movements,  appear- 
ance, temper,  capabilities,  and  habits.  They  stand  at  the  two 
extremes  of  the  equine  tribe.  The  cart-horse  is  useful  for 
only  one  purpose,  that  of  draught.  The  thorough-bred  horse 
is  useful  for  many  purposes.  If  taken  from  the  race-course, 
he  makes  the  most  superlative  of  hunters;  he  is  undeniable 
as  a  charger,  and  equally  good  in  harness;  and,  with  some 
exceptions,  he  makes  the  best  of  hacks;  and  when,  poor  fel- 
low, he  is  worn  out  in  those  services,  he  will  go  to  the  plow 
with  the  most  amiable  docility.  The  more  persons  are  ac- 
quainted with  him,  the  more  highly  will  they  value  his  nu- 
merous properties. 

A  breeder  of  through-bred  horses  has  a  manifest  advan- 
tage over  him  who  breeds  half-bred  ones,  on  two  very  essen- 
tial points.  The  former  knows  to  a  certainty  how  his  mare 
is  descended,  and  can  obtain  similar  information  concerning 
the  horse  which  he  may  select;  he  is  thus  able  to  avoid  con- 
sanguinity. There  are  few  half-bred  mares  whose  lineage 
can  be  traced  beyond  a  generation  or  two,  and  there  are 
many  very  promising  ones  in  appearance  whose  ancestry  is 
not  known.  The  propensity  which  stock  has  to  the  resem- 
blance of  a  distant  relative  in  character,  imperfections,  and 


94  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

constitution,  renders  the  breeder  of  half-bred  horses  liable  to 
much  uncertainty  in  that  respect.  More  perfections  are 
combined  in  and  transmitted  by  the  thorough-bred  than  the 
mongrel-bred  horse. 

It  is  a  very  frequent  exclamation,  that  breeding  horses  is 
attended  with  so  much  uncertainty  that  many  persons  have 
been  deterred  from  the  speculation,  or  have  relinquished  it 
from  disappointment.  True,  Nature  sometimes  perplexes  us 
with  casualties  which  we  did  not  contemplate,  yet  a  little  in- 
vestigation will  elucidate  and  explain  causes;  and  again,  they 
will  serve  as  monitors  for  the  future.  A  chestnut  horse  and 
a  bay  mare  may  prodnce  a  gray,  a  brown,  or  black  foal;  but 
in  all  probability  it  will  be  discovered  on  inquiry  that  some 
ancestor  was  of  a  similar  color.  When  breeding  for  the 
chase  or  the  road  is  the  object,  color  is  a  consideration  of 
some  importance,  and  that  will  be  most  successfully  regulated 
by  selecting  parents  whose  ancestors  were  generally  of  the 
most  fashionable  colors.  It  frequently  happens,  both  with 
mares  and  stallions,  that  most  of  their  progeny  are  of  different 
colors  from  themselves,  from  the  cause  already  mentioned. 

Hereditary  defects,  among  which  may  be  enumerated 
spavins,  curbs,  roaring,  and  constitutional  blindness,  may  lie 
dormant  in  the  immediate  progenitors,  and  make  their  ap- 
pearance in  the  offspring ;  but  it  will  nine  times  out  of  ten 
be  ascertained  that  the  imperfection  is  a  family  inheritance. 
No  surprise  ought  to  be  aroused  by  such  events,  and  when  they 
transpire  they  should  be  attributed  to  want  of  caution.  It 
is  to  guard  against  such  casualties  that  circumspection,  studyt 
and  experience  are  valuable;  and  the  more  judgment  there 
is  exercised  the  more  satisfactory  will  be  the  results  of  the 
undertaking.  Beauty,  symmetry,  and  action  are  essential 
qualifications;  for  the  price  which  may  be  obtained  for  a 
handsome  young  horse  with  showy  action,  far  exceeds  that 
which  can  be  procured  for  one  whose  only  merit  consists  in 
his  goodness,  without  style  and  appearance  to  recommend 
him  to  notice.  The  value  of  the  latter  is  not  estimated  until 
his  good  deeds  have  established  his  fame,  and  it  may  not  be 
in  the  power  of  the  breeder  to  put  them  to  the  test,  or,  hav- 
ing done  so,  to  give  them  publicity. 


STUD   BOOK.  95 


CHAPTEE  VI 

TREATMENT  AND  MANAGEMENT   OF  THE  HOESE.  « 

THE  STABLE. 

THE  first  thing  of  importance  in  the  treatment  of  a 
horse  is  the  building  which  is  provided  for  him,  or  his 
stable.  Perhaps  the  best  way  of  treating  the  subject  is  to 
show  what  his  stable  ought  not  to  be,  and  that,  unfortunately, 
both  for  the  animal  and  his  owner,  will  be  to  show  what  it 
too  generally  is. 

In  the  first  place,  it  ought  not  to  be  dark;  and  in  this 
respect  there  are  but  too  many  proprietors  of  horses  who 
will,  in  their  practice  at  any  rate,  be  at  issue  with  us,  though 
the  total  or  partial  blindness  of  their  horses  should  have 
taught  them  better;  for  from  this  cause  in  general  springs 
the  blindness  of  the  animal,  which,  by  nature,  is  by  no  means 
more  predisposed  to  blindness  than  is  his  owner.  And  not 
only  does  c,  dark  stable  affect  the  sight  of  a  horse,  but  his 
general  health  also,  especially,  as  is  often  the  case,  if  he  be 
immured  in  his  stable  for  days  together.  Light  is  just  as  es- 
sential to  a  healthy  condition  as  food  itself,  and  an  animal 
can  no  more  thrive  without  the  one  than  the  other. 

The  window  should,  if  possible,  be  at  the  south  end  of 
the  building,  so  that  the  animal,  if  not  at  work,  should,  as 
much  as  possible,  get  the  benefit  of  the  sun's  rays,  which, 
whatever  some  persons  may  think  to  the  contrary,  were  really 
made  as  much  for  the  benefit  of  horses  as  men.  The  door 
should  be  towards  the  same  aspect.  The  window  should  go 
close  up  to  the  ceiling,  and  may  come  within  four  or 
five  feet  of  the  ground.  "When  the  window  is  constructed 
so  as  to  admit  a  sufficiency  of  light,  the  internal  walls  should 
not  be  whitewashed,  as  the  light  reflected  from  a  white  sur- 
face is  highly  injurious  to  the  eyes;  they  should  be  of  a  dark 
gray  color,  and  this  is  easily  effected  by  mixing  a  little  lamp- 
black with  the  lime-wash. 

The  next  thing  to  be  considered  is  ventilation;  and  this — 
as  stables  are  commonly  ventilated,  or  rather  not  ventilated 
— is  believed  to  be  of  no  moment  whatever.  In  many  old 


96  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

country  stables  we  find  the  door  made  of  two  portions;  the 
upper  one  opening  while  the  lower  one  is  made  fast.  This  13 
very  well  for  farm  stables,  but  this  construction  is  not  adapt- 
ed for  those  where  horses  of  the  higher  class  are  kept.  With 
a  door  of  this  description,  open  at  the  top,  and  a  lofty  win- 
dow at  the  other  end,  open  at  the  top,  also  a  draught  takes 
place  which  is  above  the  horse's  back,  and  will  ventilate  the 
stable  thoroughly,  especially  if  the  stable  be  lofty,  as  it  al- 
ways should  be,  though  it  is  in  general  constructed  so  as 
to  have  a  hay-loft  over  it — a  great  convenience,  no  doubt — 
but  one  which  should  not  be  permitted  to  reduce  the  height 
of  the  stable  itself  to  some  seven  or  eight  feet:  in  which 
circumscribed  space  a  team  of  horses  is  often  confined  for 
the  night,  under  the  necessity  of  breathing  the  same  air  as 
they  have  expired.  To  expect  horses  to  be  healthy  or  sound 
under  such  a  condition  is  to  expect  an  impossibility. 

A  little  consideration  will  show  the  importance  of  per- 
fect ventilation.  The  air  which  the  horse  expires  is  as  to- 
tally different  a  susbstance  to  that  which  he  inhales  as  wood 
is  from  iron.  He  inhales  atmospheric  air,  and  the  consti- 
tuents of  this  pass  through,  his  lungs  and  into  his  blood; 
he  expires  carbonic  acid  gas,  one  of  the  gases  most  inim- 
ical to  animal  life,  as  any  man  may  convince  himself  who 
will  go  down  into  an  old  unused  well.  If  this  deadly  gas  be 
not  carried  off  by  proper  ventilation,  it  becomes  mixed  with 
the  atmospheric  air  of  the  stable,  and  is  again  inhaled,  to  the 
great  injury  of  the  animal'::  health.  The  greatest  care  is 
also  requisite  that  ii  should  bo  thoroughly  carried  off,  and 
this  can  only  be  done  as  it  comes  out  from  the  animal's 
body;  when  cold,  it  is  heavier  than  atmospheric  air,  and 
sinks  to  the  floor  of  the  stable,  in  which  case  it  is  not  so 
easily  got  rid  of,  but  may  lay  the  foundation  of  diseases  in- 
numerable, and  will  certainly  shorten  the  usefulness,  if  not 
the  life,  of  the  animal.  From  this,  as  much  as  from  any 
other  cause,  horses  may  truly  bo  said  not  to  live  out  half 
their  days. 

A  thorough  ventilation  is  as  necessary  in  the  winter  as  the 
summer,  and  there  is  infinitely  less  risk  of  injuring  the  horse 
by  cold,  than  by  allowing  him  to  breathe  expired  air  over 
again.  If  accustomed  to  proper  ventilation  he  will  never 
take  cold  from  any  judicious  means  adapted  to  promote  his 
health  and  comfort.  Pure  air  in  winter  is  as  necessary  as  in 
summer,  whilst  in  the  summer  the  more  that  can  be  admitted 
to  cool  the  stable  the  better.  The  building  should,  then,  be 
so  constructed  as  in  summer  to  admit  the  greatest  possible 


STUD   BOOK.  97 

quantity  of  pure  air,  and  in  winter  to  admit  sufficient  for  the 
preservation  of  the  purity  of  the  atmosphere  without  run- 
ning any  risk  from  cold  draughts.  Care  must  also  be  taken 
not  to  admit  draughts  of  air  near  the  horse's  heels,  or  dis- 
eased legs  will  be  the  result.  Draught  cannot  be  too  care- 
fully guarded  against,  nor  is  it  requisite  that  such  should 
occur,  if  a  little  forethought  only  be  exercised.  Some 
writers  on  the  subject  advocate  a  chimney-shaft  to  be  erected 
in  the  stable,  by  which  the  foul  air  can  best  escape,  and  also 
the  admission  of  fresh  air  over  the  animal's  head  by  means 
of  perforated  zinc. 

The  next  consideration — and  it  is  not  less  important  than 
either  of  the  preceding — is  that  of  cleanliness.  Too  many 
persons  believe,  or  they  act  as  so  believing,  that  the  more  a 
horse  stands  and  sleeps  amongst  the  filth  of  his  own  litter 
the  more  he  thrives.  This  is  an  error  of  ignorance,  or  of 
idleness — perhaps  both  combined.  The  effect  of  it,  at  any 
rate,  is  to  make  the  animal,  in  addition  to  breathing  his  own 
breath  again,  inhale  the  foetid  ammoniacal  steams  which  arise 
from  his  own  odure  and  urine.  We  have  even  heard  farmers 
defend  this  mode  on  the  ground  that  the  manure  is  better, 
as  though  the  manure  were  worth  anything  in  comparison 
with  the  horse. 

Men  who  reason  thus  are  of  the  same  class  as  those  who 
strew  their  manure  over  the  yard  in  order  that  the  rain  may 
wash  from  it  all  the  ammoniacal  salts,  so  that  it  may  be 
rendered  the  worst  adapted  possible  for  the  use  intended. 
Yet  were  their  wisdom  questioned,  they  would  sneer  at  any 
one  who  might  give  himself  the  trouble  to  instruct  them,  as 
they  no  doubt  will  at  us,  when  we  tell  them  that  cleanliness 
is  as  requisite  for  a  horse  as  for  a  family. 

A  brick  or  stone  stable  floor  is  the  best;  if  the  latter,  the 
stone  should  be  roughened  with  small  furrows;  and  in  either 
case  a  deep  drain  sunk  outside  of  the  stable  is  necessary,  for 
keeping  it  perfectly  dry,  without  which  either  brick  or  stone 
fioors  will  be  prejudical  from  damp.  This  is  of  the  utmost 
importance.  Neither  should  such  drains  be  used  to  carry 
off  the  urine.  The  fioor  should  slope  an  inch  to  c,  yard;  but 
only  to  the  gutter  which  carries  of  the  urine.  Indeed,  if  this 
is  carried  off  by  an  iron  pipe  with  suitable  openings  so 
much  the  better.  A  tub  sunk  outside  the  stable  as  a  recept- 
acle for  the  urine  will  soon  amply  repay  the  fanner  for  his 
trouble;  it  is  too  valuable  to  be  permitted  to  diffuse  itself 
over  the  dung-heap  in  the  yard,  to  be  washed  away  with  the 
first  shower  of  rain. 


98  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

Litter  should  always  be  allowed  for  a  horse  to  stale  upon, 
as  it  is  easily  removed;  and  a  little  water  thrown  down 
occasionally  will  keep  the  stable  free  from  smells.  Nothing 
can  be  more  offensive  either  to  horse  or  man  than  the  smell 
of  putrid  urine;  whilst,  if  this  be  permitted  to  run  into  a 
proper  receptacle,  and  a  little  sulphuric  acid  added  occa- 
sionally, nothing  can  exceed  its  value  as  a  manure,  which  the 
farmer  should  be  as  careful  to  preserve  as  he  is  the  corn 
which  it  fertilizes. 

Within  reason,  the  more  room  a  horse  has  in  his  stall  the 
less  liable  will  he  be  to  swollen  legs.  In  no  instance  ought 
he  to  have  less  room  than  six  feet,  and  if  ten  can  be  afforded 
him  so  much  the  more  will  he  thrive,  the  comfort  being 
especially  felt  after  a  hard  day's  work.  Loose  boxes  are 
indispensable  to  horses  of  value. 

A  perfect  stable  should  never  have  a  hay-loft  over  it. 
This,  of  course,  will  give  a  little  more  trouble  to  the  stable- 
man; but  where  the  comfort  of  a  horse  is  concerned  that  is 
of  no  consequence  whatever.  A  deep  manger,  with  two  or 
ihree  iron  bars  across,  is  far  preferable  to  a  rack  or  well  for 
the  reception  of  hay,  and  will  more  effectually  prevent  waste. 
An  arrangement  for  water  should  also  be  provided.  The 
front  must,  of  course,  be  boarded  up,  with  the  exception  of 
the  part  from  which  the  horse  eats.  The  advantage  of  this 
arrangement  would  be,  that  all  the  hay  would  be  eaten,  and 
not  pulled  down,  as  is  generally  the  case,  and  trodden  under 
foot  amongst  the  litter.  Much  hay  will  be  saved  by  the  use 
of  a  deep  manger  as  a  substitute  for  a  rack;  and  an  equal 
saving  would  take  place  in  com  if  the  manger  were  made  to 
slope  slightly  inwards,  instead  of  outwards,  as  is  usually  the 
case.  It  would  exceedingly  puzzle  a  wasteful  or  mischievous 
horse  to  throw  his  corn  out  of  such  a  manger,  if  it  is  deep 
enough;  but  for  this,  the  manger  as  usually  constructed 
affords  him  every  facility. 

Dung  never  ought  to  be  allowed  to  be  swept  up  in  a 
comor,  as  is  frequently  the  case,  and  all  wet  litter  should  be 
removed.  In  short,  the  more  pains  that  are  taken  relative  to 
a  horse's  comfort  in  a  stable  the  more  will  he  repay  those 
pains;  and  the  farmer,  especially,  can  have  no  better 
assurance  that  the  more  the  horses  thrive  the  more  will  he 
himself  thrive.  The  very  fact  of  his  attention  to  his  horses, 
independently  of  the  more  effective  work  arising  therefrom, 
will  beget  a  similar  habit  of  attention  to  everything  else. 


STUD  BOOK.  99 


THE  HORSE'S  FOOD. 

This  should  be  of  oats  and  hay  of  the  best  quality;  beans 
for  hard-working  horses,  occasionally  varied  with  carrots  or 
Swedes;  bran  mashes;  and,  under  some  circumstances,  lin- 
seed grueL  Many  persons  are  not  aware  that  the  price  of 
musty  corn  and  bad  hay  is  vastly  dearer  than  that  of  the 
same  commodities  of  good  quality — and  that  the  worse  the 
quality  the  higher  the  cost.  It  is  so,  nevertheless — for 
whether  the  purchaser  of  inferior  articles  bargain  for  it  or 
not,  he  always  purchases  with  them  indigestion,  foulness  of 
blood,  looseness  of  the  bowels,  general  debility,  and  glanders; 
all  of  these  being  too  costly  to  be  purchased  in  any  stable. 
We  once  knew  a  farmer  whose  practice  it  was  to  sell  all  his 
best  articles,  and  keep  the  refuse  of  his  farm  for  his  own 
horses;  the  consequence  was,  that  he  never  was  without 
glanders  or  some  other  disease  in  his  stable;  and  there  was 
not  a  carter  in  the  parish  who  did  not  give  his  team  a  wide 
berth  wherever  he  met  it  with  his  own  horses.  It  was  the 
man's  system,  nevertheless;  he  either  could  not  see  its  bane- 
fulness,  or  he  would  not  alter  it;  so  he  died  at  last  from  it, 
having  caught  a  glanderous  infection  from  his  own  stable. 
Mr.  Spooner,  in  speaking  of  this  subject,  thus  testifies  his 
own  experience : — "  I  have  known  a  serious  loss  sustained  by 
a  proprietor  of  post  and  coach  horses,  from  keeping  a  con- 
siderable stock  of  oats,  and  neglecting  to  turn  them;  many 
horses  became  glandered  and  farcied,  apparently  in  conse- 
quence of  this  circumstance." 

Much  has  been  said  of  late  respecting  the  advantage  of 
bruising  oats,  and  various  machines  are  much  in  vogue  for 
the  purpose.  Mr.  Spooner  says  of  them,  "they  are  apt  to 
produce  diarrhoea,  especially  if  the  animal  is  worked  hard." 
It  is  further  alleged  that  many  horses  will  not  eat  them  with 
an  appetite:  and  the  opponents  to  the  system  go  further, 
urging  that  unbruised  oats  excite  a  flow  of  saliva,  necessary  to 
perfect  digestion,  which  is  not  the  case  with  those  which  are 
bruised.  The  explanation  to  the  first  of  these  questions  sup- 
plies a  very  strong  recommendation.  The  stomach,  having 
derived  a  sufficient  quantity  of  nourishment  from  a  moderate 
portion,  does  not  require  more.  With  reference  to  the  flow 
of  the  saliva,  without  entering  upon  the  question  how  far  it 
is  necessary  to  assist  digestion,  no  animal  can  swallow  its 
food  without  a  sufficiency  of  saliva  to  assist  the  act  of  deglu- 
tition; and  it  is  not  recommended  to  reduce  the  oats  to  flour, 


100  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

but  merely  to  bruise  them.  Many  persons  fancy  that  by 
giving  oats  in  small  quantities,  and  spreading  them  thinly 
over  the  manger,  the  horses  will  be  induced  to  masticate 
them.  Those  who  have  watched  their  operations  will  find 
that  a  greedy-feeding  horse  will  drive  his  corn  up  into  a  heap, 
and  collect  with  his  lips  as  much  as  he  thinks  proper  for  a 
mouthful. 

Little,  if  any,  advantage  arises  from  cutting  hay  into  chaff, 
especially  for  the  most  valuable  kind  of  horses.  It  is  done  in 
cart  stables  to  prevent  waste,  which  is  often  enormous  in  those 
departments  where  horses  are  permitted  to  pull  the  hay  out 
of  their  racks,  and  tread  it  under  foot. 

The  state  of  perfection  to  which  the  higher  classes  of  the 
horse  have  been  brought,  is  attributable  to  the  great  atten- 
tion devoted  during  a  long  period  of  time  to  the  selection  of 
the  best  descriptions  for  the  purpose  of  perpetuating  the 
species;  the  treatment  they  have  received,  under  the  influence 
of  a  propitious  climate;  and  the  nature  of  the  food  with 
which  they  have  been  supplied:  greater  improvements  are 
capable  of  being  realized  by  judicious  management. 

With  reference  to  treatment,  and  climate,  practical  ex- 
perience assures  us  that  the  atmosphere  is  suitable  to  the 
constitution  of  the  equine  tribe;  but  the  vicissitudes  of  the  ele- 
ments are  so  great,  that  protection  is  necessary  to  guard  against 
their  effects.  This  is  found  to  apply,  not  only  to  the  horse, 
but  to  ah1  others  of  our  domesticated  animals.  Warmth,  in 
connection  with  a  pure  and  uncontaminated  air,  is  of  the  ut- 
most importance;  but  it  is  not  necessary  to  enter  into  the 
details  by  which  that  desideratum  is  to  be  accomplished.  The 
subject  of  food  requires  more  minute  observations,  especially 
as  it  is  too  frequently  disregarded,  except  by  breeders  of  race- 
horses. 

The  great  perfection  of  the  physical  powers  of  the  horse 
is  obtained  by  the  due  proportion  and  constituent  elements 
of  muscular  fibre,  bone,  and  sinew;  and  the  more  these  sub- 
stances are  respectively  condensed,  so  to  speak,  the  greater 
the  amount  of  power  will  there  exist  in  a  given  bulk.  Every 
description  of  food  which  is  said  to  contain  nutritive  proper- 
ties, abounds  more  or  less,  and  in  various  proportions,  with 
elements  calculated  for  the  construction  of  the  different  sub- 
stances of  which  the  animal  frame  is  composed.  It  is  there- 
fore important  to  select  those  kinds  of  food  which  contain 
the  most  of  these  particles  convertible  into  substances  which 
render  the  animal  of  the  highest  value.  The  growth  of  ani- 
mals, the  development  of  their  muscles,  the  texture  of  their 


STUD   BOOK.  101 

bones  and  sinews,  depend  greatly  upon  the  quality  of  the 
food  with  which  they  are  supplied.  That  which  is  conducive 
to  the  production  of  fat  must  be  rejected;  for,  although  there 
is  not  any  kind  of  food  which  is  convertible  into  muscle 
which  will  not  at  the  same  time  produce  fat,  there  are  many 
circumstances  which  render  different  kinds  more  abundant 
with  the  elements  of  either  substance.  This  is  a  wise  ordina- 
tion of  nature,  for  to  a  certain  extent,  fat  is  essential  to  the 
health  and  the  motive  powers  of  the  animal,  but  in  excess  it 
is  detrimental  On  this  point  circumspection  and  experience 
are  valuable  acquirements  to  regulate  the  condition.  "When 
a  horse  is  in  a  manifest  state  of  plethora,  it  is  a  certain  indi- 
cation that  the  food  which  he  receives  abounds  too  copiously 
with  elements  conducive  to  the  production  of  the  adipose 
substance.  It  will  sometimes  happen  that  a  horse  does  not 
generate  a  sufficiency  of  fat;  this  may  arise  from  indispo- 
sition, the  bad  quality  of  the  food,  or  its  not  being  given 
in  sufficient  quantities. 

There  are  certain  laws  of  nature  indispensable  to  animal 
life,  certain  functions  which  must  be  supported.  Physiolo- 
gists inform  us  that  the  nourishment  of  the  body  is  derived 
from  the  ingredients  of  the  blood,  two  of  the  principal  of 
which  are  serum  and  fibrine.  The  serum,  when  condensed 
or  coagulated,  forms  albumen,  the  restorative  element  of  fat 
and  muscular  fibre;  the  fibrine  contained  in  the  blood  con- 
tributes largely  to  the  formation  of  muscle  or  flesh.  Animal 
and  vegetable  fibrine  and  albumen  are  preciselv  similar,  and 
unless  they  form  component  parts  of  the  food  the  animal  will 
waste  away.  Fat,  muscular  fibre,  and  certain  other  sub- 
stances, composing  the  animal  frame,  are  constantly  undergo- 
ing the  process  of  exhaustion,  through  the  effect  of  oxygen, 
which  is  taken  into  the  system  every  moment  of  life  by  means 
of  the  organs  of  respiration.  But  no  part  of  that  oxygen  re- 
mains in  the  body;  it  is  expelled  in  the  form  of  carbon  and 
hydrogen,  by  exhalations  from  the  skin,  and  the  ordinary 
evacuations.  The  expenditure  of  carbon  and  hydrogen  is  in- 
creased by  labor  or  exercise  in  an  equal  ratio  as  the  number 
of  exhalations  are  accelerated  by  that  exercise.  By  this  pro- 
cess the  fat  and  muscular  fibre  are  constantly  in  a  state  of 
exhaustion  and  renewal,  and  are  supposed  to  be  thoroughly 
renewed  in  the  course  of  six  or  seven  months;  dependent, 
however,  upon  the  amount  of  labor,  and  the  uninterrupted 
health  of  the  animal.  The  more  expeditiously  this  renova- 
tion of  the  system  takes  place,  the  more  perfect  will  be  the 
condition  of  the  subject.  It  is  therefore  evident  that  the  nu- 


102  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

tritive  matter  supplied  by  the  food  must  exceed  the  exhaus- 
tion which  takes  place  in  young  animals,  to  occasion  their 
growth  and  increase  the  development  of  muscle  and  other 
tissues,'  and  with  adults  it  must  be  equivalent  with  the  ex- 
haustion to  maintain  the  animal  in  a  normal  state. 

It  has  been  ascertained  that  such  vegetable  food  as  affords 
nourishment  to  animals  abounds  most  with  nitrogen;  and 
that  they  require  the  least  of  those  kinds  which  contain  the 
largest  quantities.  But  here  it  must  be  observed  there  is  a 
limit  to  the  presentation  of  food  abounding  too  profusely 
with  nutritive  properties,  which  will  speedily  affect  the 
animal  partaking  thereof.  The  blood-vessels  will  become 
distended,  and  other  channels  overcharged  with  an  excess  of 
their  fluid;  and  upon  the  slightest  appearance  of  the  symp- 
toms which  indicate  a  disordered  state  of  the  circulation, 
unless  medicines  are  presented  which  are  calculated  to  relieve 
the  system  from  the  accumulation,  aided  by  temporary 
abstinence,  and  indeed  change  of  food,  the  health  of  the 
animal  is  sure  to  suffer. 

Professor  Playfair,  who  has  made  experiments  on  the  quan- 
tity of  nutritious  matter  contained  in  different  kinds  of  food 
supplied  to  animals,  found  that  in  one  hundred  pounds  of  oats, 
eleven  pounds  represent  the  quantity  of  gluten  wherewith  flesh 
is  formed,  and  that  an  equal  weight  of  hay  affords  eight  pounds 
of  similar  substance.  Both  hay  and  oats  contain  about  sixty- 
eight  per  cent,  of  unazotised  matter  identical  with  fat,  of 
which  it  must  be  observed  a  vast  portion  passes  off  from  the 
animal  without  being  deposited.  By  this  calculation  it  ap- 
pears that  if  a  horse  consumes  daily  four  feeds  of  oats  and 
ten  pounds  of  hay,  the  nutriment  which  he  derives  will  be  equiv- 
alent to  about  one  pound  eleven  ounces  of  muscle,  and  thirteen 
and  a  half  pounds  of  superfluous  matter,  which,  exclusively  of 
water,  nearly  approximates  the  exhaustion  of  the  system  by 
perspiration  and  the  various  evacuations. 

It  is  generally  known  that  the  embryo  offspring  partakes 
of  the  health  or  condition  of  the  dam,  therefore  the  food  with 
which  the  mother  is  supplied  must  affect  the  foal.  This  is  a 
subject  too  commonly  disregarded  by  breeders;  although  it 
is  constantly  demonstrated  after  the  foal  comes  into  life.  If 
a  mare  be  supplied  with  food  which  produces  relaxation,  her 
foal  will  be  in  the  same  state;  and  constipation  is  recognized 
in  the  same  manner.  The  propriety  of  supplying  a  brood- 
mare with  the  best  and  most  suitable  kinds  of  food  during 
pregnancy  cannot  be  too  strongly  impressed.  In  the  man- 
agement of  young  stock  every  effort  should  be  made,  by  giv- 


STUD  BOOK.  103 

ing  them  food  which  is  adapted  to  the  purpose,  to  bring 
them  to  maturity  as  early  as  possible;  by  these  means  the 
texture  and  development  of  the  bones,  the  sinews,  and  the 
muscles  is  greatly  accelerated  The  constitution  of  each  an- 
imal must  be  consulted,  and  it  is  highly  important,  if  the 
acme  of  condition  is  to  be  attained  by  animals  when  they  ar- 
rive at  an  age  of  maturity,  that  the  growth  and  gradual  de- 
velopment of  their  frames  should  be  composed  of  those 
healthy  and  invigorating  materials,  upon  which  the  structure 
of  condition  can  be  raised.  To  accomplish  this,  hay,  oats, 
and  occasionally  beans,  must  form  the  principal  items  of 
equine  dietary,  and  grass  should  be  provided  only  in  limited 
supplies  during  the  summer  months.  It  is  to  giving  growing 
stock  unrestricted  quantities  of  green  food  that  breeders 
must  ascribe  a  general  cause  for  their  disappointment,  and  it 
is  by  that  practice  that  the  kingdom  is  supplied  with  such 
vast  numbers  of  worthless  animals.  Grass,  it  may  be  ob- 
served, loses  two-thirds  of  its  weight,  and  a  greater  propor- 
tion of  bulk,  when  converted  into  hay;  but  that  extraneous 
matter  consists  of  moisture,  possessing  no  portion  of  fibrine, 
consequently  it  contains  none  of  those  elements  which  in- 
crease muscular  development.  If  a  horse  be  supported  upon 
grass  alone,  he  must  eat  a  vast  quantity — equal  to  more  than 
three  times  the  proportion  of  hay — to  derive  an  equivalent 
amount  of  nourishment;  being  very  full  of  sap  and  moisture, 
it  is  quickly  digested;  consequently,  the  animal  must  be  con- 
tinually devouring  it.  This  distends  the  stomach  and  bow- 
els, and  impairs  the  faculty  of  digestion;  for  the  digestive 
powers  require  rest  as  well  as  the  other  organs  of  the  body, 
if  they  are  to  be  preserved  in  a  healthy  state.  The  muscular 
system  is  debilitated,  and  fat  accumulates;  flatulent  cholic  or 
gripes  is  produced,  which  not  unfrequentiy  becomes  consti- 
tutional. Nothing  can  be  more  erroneous  than  the  antiquated 
impression,  that  the  purgative  properties  of  young  grass  in 
the  spring  are  conducive  to  the  healthy  state  of  the  equine 
family.  When  the  modus  opet^andi  of  that  description  of  food 
is  explained,  the  supposition  of  its  being  calculated  to  pro- 
duce beneficial  effects  must  vanish.  The  young  green  herb- 
age is  extensively  overcharged  with  sap  and  moisture,  of  a 
crude  and  acrimonious  nature,  and  it  exists  so  abundantly 
that  a  considerable  portion  of  it  cannot  be  taken  up  by  the 
organs  destined  for  th£  secretion  of  urine,  or  by  the  absorb- 
ent vessels  of  the  body;  a  great  quantity  of  this  superfluous 
fluid,  therefore,  passes  into  the  intestines,  and  is  thus  dis- 
charged in  a  watery  state.  But  the  mischief  does  not  termi- 


104  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

nate  immediately  on  the  subsiding  of  the  purgative  action; 
the  absorbent  vessels,  having  been  overloaded,  become  dis- 
tended and  relaxed,  and  some  time  intervenes  before  they 
resume  their  healthy  tone,  under  the  most  judicious  treat- 
ment. This  is  clearly  exemplified  by  the  habitual  tendency 
which  many  horses  exhibit  of  having  swelled  legs.  When 
this  evil  exists,  any  persons  who  entertain  a  doubt  as  to  the 
primary  cause  may  readily  convince  themselves,  by  investi- 
gating the  course  of  treatment  to  which  the  animal  has  been 
subjected.  Horses  which  are  reared  on  wet,  marshy  land  are 
invariably  afflicted  with  this  relaxed  condition  of  the  absorb- 
ent vessels  of  the  legs.  Constant  supplies  of  green  succulent 
food  render  these  defects  constitutional,  and  the  most  scien- 
tific stable  management  is  often  frustrated  when  such  ani- 
mals are  required  to  perform  ordinary  labor;  their  legs  fail, 
not  from  anatomical  defects,  but  from  the  cause  explained, 
which  operates  injuriously  upon  a  structure  which  is  natu- 
rally perfect. 

Superficial  judges  of  horses  do  not  mark  the  difference 
between  the  appearance  of  a  fat  and  a  muscular-formed  an- 
imal If  the  bones  are  covered,  the  points  filled  out,  and  the 
general  contour  looks  pleasing  to  the  eye,  they  conceive  that 
every  requisite  is  accomplished.  A  more  fallacious  impression 
cannot  exist.  A  horse  of  moderate  pretensions,  if  in  perfect 
condition,  will  prove  himself  infinitely  superior  in  the  quality 
of  endurance  or  capability  to  perform  work,  than  one  of  a 
higher  character  which  is  not  in  condition.  If  two  horses  are 
ridden  side  by  side,  at  a  moderate  pace  of  seven  or  eight 
miles  in  the  hour,  on  a  warm  day  in  the  summer,  one  of 
which  has  been  taken  out  of  a  grass  field  and  the  other 
fed  on  hay  and  corn,  the  difference  will  be  very  soon  de- 
tected. The  grass-fed  horse  will  perspire  profusely,  yet  the 
other  will  be  cool  and  dry.  This  propensity  to  perspire  like- 
wise proves  that  the  system  of  the  former  is  replete  with  adi- 
pose deposit,  and  fluids  destined  to  produce  that  substance; 
an  unnecessary  incumbrance,  and  in  such  quantities  opposed 
to  freedom  of  action. 

Under  an  impression  that  an  abundance  of  luxuriant  grass 
will  increase  the  flow  of  milk,  it  is  frequently  given  to  brood- 
mares, but  if  it  has  the  effect  of  producing  relaxation  it  is  ex- 
ceedingly prejudicial.  A  moderate  portion  of  good  milk  is 
far  preferable  to  that  which  is  weak  and  poor.  Thorough- 
bred mares  are  not  unfrequently  deficient  in  their  lacteal 
secretions,  more  so  than  those  of  a  common  description.  It 
is  obviously  necessary  that  either  class  should  be  supplied 


STUD  BOOK.  105 

with  good  and  nutritious  food  for  the  purpose  of  augmenting 
it  when  insufficient,  but  the  nature  of  the  food  requires  to  be 
regulated  by  the  constitution  of  the  individual 

A  mistaken  notion  of  economy  frequently  induces  persons 
to  turn  their  horses  into  the  grass  fields  during  the  summer 
months.  A  few  words  may  serve  to  dispel  that  delusion. 
Twenty-two  bushels  of  oats,  allowing  one  bushel  per  week, 
which  is  sufficient  for  young  stock  or  horses  not  in  work, 
from  the  15th  of  May  to  the  16th  of  October,  may  be  estima- 
ted as  the  produce  of  a  trifle  more  than  half  an  acre  of  land. 
From  ten  to  twelve  hundredweight  of  hay  may  be  estimated 
as  the  produce  of  another  half-acre,  although  a  ton  and  a 
half  per  acre  is  not  more  than  an  average  crop  on  land  in 
good  condition.  It  will  require  an  acre  of  grass-land  capa- 
ble of  producing  a  ton  and  a-half  of  hay  to  support  a  horse 
during  the  above-named  period.  When  the  relative  value  of 
a  horse  which  has  been  kept  on  hay  and  corn  is  compared 
with  that  of  one  which  has  been  grazed,  the  verdict  will  be 
considerably  against  the  latter. 

GENERAL  MANAGEMENT  OF  HORSES. 

There  is  not  a  more  important  subject  than  the  man 
agement  of  the  colt,  from  the  earliest  period,  and  the  pre- 
pering  and  fitting  him  for  the  duties  that  he  has  to 
perform.  The  mare  is  usually  at  heat  nt  some  period  in 
the  spring,  varying  from  the  middle  of  February  to  the 
latter  end  of  May.  The  age  of  the  foal  is  reckoned  from 
January,  therefore  it  is  a  matter  of  some  consequence  among 
racing  men  that  the  mare  should  foal  early;  for  two  or  three 
months'  difference  in  the  age  of  the  colt  will  materially  in- 
fluence the  running  at  two  years  old.  For  mares  of  other 
classes,  the  months  of  March,  April,  and  May,  are  the  most 
favorable  periods.  There  is,  however,  a  strange  difference 
in  the  length  of  the  period  of  pregnancy  in  the  mare,  more 
so  than  in  any  other  domesticated  animal  The  cause  of  this,  or 
the  circumstances  that  influence  it,  have  never  been  satisfac- 
torily explained.  The  writer  of  this  sketch  had  two  mares  that 
were  impregnated  within  two  days  of  each  other.  One  of 
them  foaled  a  fortnight  within  the  eleven  months;  the  other 
did  not  drop  her  foal  until  four  weeks  after  the  expiration 
of  the  eleventh  month.  There  was  no  possibility  of  a  second 
impregnation. 

The  mare  needs  not  to  be  taken  from  moderate  work 
because  sne  is  pregnant.  Exercise  win  be  of  advantage  to 


106  THE   OEANGE   COUNTY 

her  rather  than  otherwise,  and  may  be  continued  almost  to 
the  period  of  her  expected  parturition.  She  should,  how- 
ever, be  carefully  watched,  that  her  labor-pains  may  not 
come  upon  her  unawares.  She  will  probably  require,  when 
half  the  period  of  pregnancy  is  past,  a  little  addition  made 
to  her  food.  Any  possible  symptoms  of  abortion  should 
also  be  watched,  for  these  will  now,  if  ever,  occur.  They 
will  probably  be  attributable  to  being  overworked  or  not 
worked  at  all,  or  to  being  over-fed  or  half  starved.  It 
should  also  be  recollected  that  the  mare  which  has  once 
aborted,  is  subject  to  a  repetition  of  this  accident,  and  that 
all  the  mares  in  the  pasture  are  subject  to  the  same  mishap, 
from  a  strange  species  of  sympathy. 

A  day  or  two  after  the  foal  is  dropped,  providing  the 
weather  is  fine,  it  may  be  turned,  with  its  dam,  into  a  shel- 
tered paddock,  in  which  there  is  a  hovel  for  security  from 
the  wind  and  the  rain.  Hay,  corn,  and  bran  mashes  must  be 
allowed,  if  it  is  early  in  the  season,  or  the  grass  has  scarcely 
begun  to  shoot.  There  is  nothing  so  detrimental  to  the  colt 
as  insufficient  food.  It  should  be  regarded  as  a  fundamental 
principle  in  breeding,  that  if  the  growth  of  the  colt  at  any 
time  is  checked  by  starvation,  beauty,  energy,  and  stoutness 
will  rarely  be  displayed  in  after  years. 

In  five  or  six  months,  according  to  the  growth  of  the  foal, 
the  weaning  may  take  place.  The  colt  should  be  confined  to 
a  stable  or  other  building  until  he  becomes  a  little  reconciled 
to  the  loss  of  his  dam. 

Too  great  a  distinction,  however,  is  often  made  between 
the  colts,  according  to  the  labor  for  which  they  are  destined. 
The  one  that  is  designed  for  somewhat  superior  service  has 
a  hovel  in  which  he  is  sheltered,  while  the  other  is  probably 
exposed  to  the  biting  blast,  with  no  food  but  what  he  can 
gather  from  the  frozen  ground,  except  perhaps  a  morsel  of 
hay  and  straw,  and  that  not  of  the  best  quality,  when  the 
herbage  is  buried  in  the  snow.  There  is  nothing  gained 
by  this  system  of  starvation;  the  farmer  may  depend  upon 
it,  that  if,  from  false  economy,  the  colt  is  half  starved,  and  his 
growth  arrested,  his  value  will  be  materially  injured  as  long 
as  he  lives.  The  author  of  the  work  on  "  The  Extent  and 
Obligation  of  Humanity  to  Brutes,"  thus  describes  this  neg- 
lected creature :  "  The  foal  that  has  been  left  to  struggle  on 
as  he  can,  becomes  poor  and  dispirited.  He  is  shrinking 
under  the  hedge,  cold  and  shivering,  with  his  head  hanging 
down,  and  the  rheum  distilling  from  his  eyes.  If  he  is  made 
to  move,  he  listlessly  drags  his  limbs  along,  evidently  weak, 


STUD   BOOK.  107 

and  generally  in  pain.  He  is  a  sad  specimen  of  poverty, 
misery,  and  cruelty." 

The  purpose  for  which  the  animal  is  adapted  will  deter- 
mine the  age  when  the  progress  of  breaking  must  commence. 
Thorough-bred  ones  are  taken  in  hand  in  tho  summer,  after 
they  have  attained  their  first  year.  Those  which  are  destined 
for  other  employment  will  not  require  the  attention  of  the 
breaker  till  they  are  three  years  old.  This  is  a  process  on 
which  will  materially  depend  the  temper  and  value  of  the 
horse,  and  the  pleasure  of  the  rider.  The  foal  should  be 
handled  and  haltered,  and  led  about  by  the  person  who  has 
the  chief  care  of  him,  and  whose  conduct  towards  him  should 
always  be  kind.  "The  principle,"  says  the  author  of  "The 
Horse,"  "on  which  the  after-usefulness  of  the  animal  is 
founded,  his  early  attachment  to,  and  confidence  in  man,  and 
obedience,  resulting  principally  from  these." 

A  horse  is  well-broken  when  he  has  been  taught  implicit 
and  cheerful  obedience  to  his  rider  or  driver,  and  dexterity  in 
performance  of  his  work.  A  dogged,  sullen,  spiritless  sub- 
mission may  be  enforced  by  the  cruel  and  brutal  usage  to 
which  the  breaker  so  frequently  has  recourse;  but  that 
prompt  and  eager  response  to  the  slightest  intimation  of  the 
rider's  will — that  manifest  aim  to  anticipate  every  wish, 
which  gives  to  the  horse  so  much  of  his  value,  must  be 
founded  on  habitual  confidence  and  attachment.  The  educa- 
tion of  the  horse  should  be  like  that  of  the  child.  Pleasure 
should  be  as  much  as  possible  associated  with  the  early  les- 
sons; while  firmness,  or  if  need  be,  coercion,  must  establish 
the  habit  of  obedience. 

It  is  surprising  how  soon,  under  a  system  of  kind  manage- 
ment, the  animal  which  has  been  accustomed  to  go  where  he 
pleased,  and  to  do  as  he  thought  fit,  may  be  taught  to  yield 
up  his  will  to  another,  and  to  obey  with  alacrity  his  master's 
bidding.  If  there  is  a  kind-hearted  and  faithful  servant 
about  the  premises  who  will  undertake  this  task,  the  breeder 
is  fortunate :  for,  without  this,  he  is  often  compelled  to  re- 
sign his  colt  to  the  tender  mercies  of  a  colt-breaker — a  man 
who  seldom  has  any  conception  of  obtaining  his  object  by 
the  moral  influence  which  kindness  would  give  him  over  the 
youngster,  but  who  has  too  frequent  recourse  to  violence, 
and  that  of  the  most  outrageous  kind,  until  the  colt  becomes 
a  dull,  dispirited,  useful,  but  desponding  and  ill-treated 
slave  through  life,  or,  cherishing  a  deep  feeling  of  wrong 
and  a  spirit  of  revenge,  becomes  determinedly  vicious  and 
dangerous. 


108  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

Having  weathered  the  second  winter,  the  education  of  the 
farmer's  horse  may  be  pursued.  He  may  be  bitted.  How 
much  depends  upon  the  application  of  this  little  coercive  in- 
strument, the  bit !  The  first  bit  should  always  be  a  large 
one.  It  may  be  contrived  so  as  not  to  hurt  the  mouth  in  the 
slightest  degree.  The  colt  may  be  permitted  to  champ  and 
play  with  it  an  hour  or  two  at  a  time,  for  a  few  successive 
days.  Then  portions  of  the  harness  may  be  put  upon  him; 
and,  by-and-by,  the  winkers;  and,  a  little  after  that,  he  may 
go  as  centre  horse  in  a  team  of  three.  If  he  has  been  kindly 
an  d  well-managed,  it  is  a  great  chance  if  he  does  not  go 
quietly  enough,  and,  in  a  day  or  two,  begin  to  pull  with  the 
rest.  Not  many  days  need  to  pass  before  the  most  difficult 
of  all  the  manoeuvres  of  the  cart,  the  backing,  is  tried;  and  it 
will  succeed  oftener  than  they  who  see  the  horrible  cruelties 
that  are  inflicted  on  the  mouth  of  the  horse  would  think  to  be 
possible.  The  author  of  this  sketch  is  not  advocating  the 
humoring  and  spoiling  of  the  horse,  but  he  is  showing  how 
many  lessons  may  be  inculcated  by  patience  and  kindness, 
which  brute  force  will  fail  to  accomplish. 

The  breaking  being  accomplished,  the  management  of 
the  horse  will  vary  according  to  his  breed  and  destination; 
but  the  good  usage  of  our  domesticated  slaves  should  be 
regarded  as  a  principle  that  ought  never  to  be  violated.  The 
agricultural  horse  is  seldom  over-worked,  and  en  large  farms 
is  generally  well  fed;  perhaps,  in  many  cases,  too  much 
above  his  work.  This,  however,  is  an  error  on  the  right  side. 

There  are  many  acts  of  cruelty  committed  in  the  farmer's 
stable,  resulting  more  from  carelessness  and  thoughtlessness 
than  absolute  brutality.  In  almost  every  stable  there  is  some 
horse  more  powerful  or  greedy  than  his  neighbors,  who  robs 
them  of  the  greater  part  of  their  share  of  the  food.  The 
victims  are  usually  either  old  or  young  horses  with  imperfect 
mouths.  The  farmer's  stable  should  be  oftener  divided  into 
separate  stalls  than  it  usually  is.  The  simple  bails  afford  a 
very  insufficient  security  against  the  thefts  of  a  greedy  neigh- 
bor. The  farmer  would  certainly  reap  the  advantage  of  this 
altered  plan  in  the  increased  health  of  some  of  his  team,  and 
their  increased  capability  of  labor. 

Connected  with  this  is  another  circumstance,  with  regard 
to  which  the  farmer  should  be  always  on  the  alert — the 
etupid  and  cruel  dislike  which  the  driver  frequently  enter- 
tains towards  some  particular  horse  in  his  team.  This  is  a 
crime  that  should  never  be  forgiven;  nor  should  the  secret 
administration  of  certain  favorite  and  powerful,  and  too  fee- 


STUD   BOOK.  109 

quently,  injurious,  drugs.  This  practice  is  often  carried  to 
an  extent  that  is  scarcely  credible.  The  person  who  prac- 
tices this  imposition,  whatever  be  his  motives — often  con- 
nected with  the  wished-for  good  appearance  of  his  team — 
should  be  immediately  dismissed;  and  it  should  be  a  golden 
rule  that  no  drug  should  be  kept  or  used  in  a  stable  without 
the  master's  knowledge  and  permission. 

A  simple  but  invaluable  appendage  to  the  cart-stable  is 
the  nose-bag.  In  order  that  the  lungs  of  the  horse  may  have 
their  full  play,  and  especially  that  the  speed  of  the  horse  may 
not  be  impeded,  an  exceedingly  small  stomach  was  given  to 
him.  It  is,  consequently,  soon  emptied  of  food,  and  hunger, 
and  languor,  and  indisposition,  and  inability  to  work,  speedily 
succeed.  At  length  food  is  set  before  him;  he  falls  raven- 
ously upon  it;  he  swallows  it  faster  than  his  contracted 
stomach  can  digest  it;  the  stomach  becomes  overloaded;  he 
cannot,  from  the  peculiar  construction  of  that  organ,  get  rid 
of  the  load  by  vomiting,  and  the  stomach,  or  some  of  the 
vessels  of  the  brain  become  ruptured,  and  the  animal  dies, 
The  farmer  attributes  this  to  an  unknown  or  accidental  cause, 
and  dreams  not  that  it  is,  in  the  great  majority  of  cases,  to  be 
traced  to  voracious  feeding  after  hard  work  and  long  fasting. 
The  nose-bag  is  a  simple  but  a  kind  contrivance,  and  an 
effectual  preventive.  No  cart-horse  on  a  journey  of  more 
than  four  or  five  hours  should  be  suffered  to  leave  the  far- 
mer's yard  without  it 

A  very  slight  inspection  of  the  animal  will  always  enable 
the  owner  to  determine  whether  he  is  too  well  fed  or  not  suf- 
ficiently fed.  The  size  of  the  horse,  and  the  nature  of  the 
work,  and  the  season  of  the  year,  will  make  considerable 
difference  in  the  quantity  and  the  quality  of  the  food.  The 
grand  principles  of  feeding,  with  reference  to  agricultural 
horses,  are  to  keep  the  animal  rather  above  his  work,  to  give 
him  good  and  wholesome  food,  and  by  the  use  of  the  nose- 
bag or  other  means,  never  to  let  him  work  longer  than  the 
time  already  mentioned  without  being  baited. 

The  horse  of  quick  work  should  be  allowed  as  much  as 
he  will  eat,  care  being  taken  that  more  is  put  into  the 
manger-than  he  will  readily  dispose  of;  and  that  the  corn  be 
consumed  before  the  hay  is  given;  if  the  former  be  not 
eaten  up  with  an  appetite,  it  must  be  removed  before  the 
stable  is  shut  up.  The  quantity  actually  eaten  will  depend 
on  the  degree  of  work  and  the  natural  appetite  of  the  horse; 
but  it  may  be  averaged  at  about  sixty-six  pounds  of  chaff, 
seventeen  pounds  and  a  half  of  beans,  and  seventy-seven 
pounds  of  oats  per  week. 


110  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

The  watering  of  the  horse  is  a  very  important  but  disre- 
garded portion  of  his  general  management.  The  kind  of 
water  has  not  been  sufficiently  considered.  The  difference 
between  what  is  termed  hard  and  soft  water  is  a  circumstance 
of  general  observation.  The  former  contains  certain  saline 
principles  which  decompose  some  bodies,  as  appears  in  the 
curdling  of  soap,  and  prevent  the  decomposition  of  others, 
as  in  the  making  of  tea,  the  boiling  of  vegetables,  and  the 
process  of  brewing.  It  is  natural  to  suppose  that  these 
different  kinds  of  water  would  produce  somewhat  different 
effects  on  the  animal  frame;  and  such  is  the  fact.  Hard 
water,  freshly  drawn  from  the  well,  will  frequently  roughen 
the  coat  of  the  horse  unaccustomed  to  it,  or  cause  griping 
pains,  or  materially  lessen  the  animal's  power  of  exertion. 
The  racing  and  the  hunting  groom  are  perfectly  aware  of 
this,  and  so  is  the  horse,  for  he  will  refuse  the  purest  water 
from  the  well,  if  he  can  obtain  access  to  the  running  stream, 
or  even  the  turbid  pool.  Where  there  is  the  power  of  choice, 
the  softer  water  should  undoubtedly  be  preferred. 

The  temperature  of  the  water  is  of  far  more  consequence 
than  its  hardness.  It  will  rarely  harm,  if  taken  from  the 
pond  or  the  running  stream,  but  its  coldness,  when  recently 
drawn  from  the  weh1  has  often  been  injurious;  it  has  pro- 
duced colic,  spasm,  and  even  death. 

There  is  often  considerable  prejudice  against  the  horse 
being  fairly  supplied  with  water.  It  is  supposed  to  chill 
him,  to  injure  his  wind,  or  to  incapacitate  him  for  hard 
work.  It  certainly  would  do  so,  if,  immediately  after  drink- 
ing his  fill,  he  were  galloped  hard,  but  not  if  he  were  suffered 
to  quench  his  thirst  more  frequently  when  at  rest  in  the 
stable.  The  horse  that  has  free  access  to  water  will  not 
drink  so  much  in  the  course  of  the  day  as  another,  who,  in 
order  to  cool  his  parched  mouth,  swallows  as  fast  as  he 
can,  and  knows  not  when  to  stop. 

A  horse  may  with  perfect  safety  be  far  more  liberally  sup- 
plied with  water  than  he  generally  is.  An  hour  before  his 
work  commences  he  should  be  permitted  to  drink  a  couple 
of  quarts.  A  greater  quantity  might  probably  be  objected 
to.  He  will  perform  his  task  far  more  pleasantly  and  effec- 
tively than  with  a  parched  )nouth  and  tormenting  thirst. 
The  prejudice  both  of  the  hunting  and  the  training  groom 
on  this  point  is  cruel,  as  weU  as  injurious.  The  task  of  the 
journey  being  accomplished,  and  the  horse  having  had  his 
head  and  neck  dressed,  his  legs  and  feet  washed,  before  his 
body  is  cleaned  he  should  hav$  his  water.  When  dressed, 


STUD  BOOK.  Ill 

his  corn  may  be  offered  to  him,  which  he  will  readily  take; 
but  water  should  never  be  given  immediately  before  or  after 
the  corn. 

The  preparatory  work  and  treatment  of  hacks  and  car- 
riage-horses scarcely  varies,  if  the  owner  desires  to  have 
them  in  first-rate  order.  The  most  extraordinary  notions  pre- 
vail concerning  the  hardihood  of  horses,  and  the  best  means 
of  securing  that  valuable  faculty.  It  is  alleged  that  those 
which  are  bred  in  the  mountainous  districts  of  Wales  and 
Scotland  are  highly  gifted  with  this  property.  It  is  true  they 
bear  exposure  to  great  inclemency  of  weather,  and  live  on 
scanty  food.  Thus,  reasoning  by  analogy,  persons  fancy  that 
by  demi-starvation  and  exposure  to  inclemency  a  hardy  animal 
may  be  reared.  There  cannot  be  be  a  more  palpable  error. 
The  mountaineers  are  not  able  to  work  in  their  native  state ; 
they  must  be  well  supplied  with  good  nutriment  when  their 
active  services  are  required,  and  that,  with  dry  shelter,  in  a 
well-ventilated  building,  is  the  keystone  to  physical  power 
and  endurance. 

MANAGEMENT   OF  FARM   HORSES. 

Agriculturists  find  it  to  their  advantage  to  keep  their 
horses  in  the  stables  and  yards  throughout  the  summer,  in 
preference  to  turning  them  out  into  the  pasture  fielda  The 
manure  which  they  make  more  than  compensates  for  the  ex- 
pense of  bringing  their  food  to  them.  In  the  winter,  an  al- 
lowance of  Swedes  saves  a  vast  quantity  of  hay  and  corn,  and 
keeps  the  animals  cool :  they  are  preferable  to  carrots.  Bran 
is  useful,  but  it  should  never  be  given  to  them,  or  to  any 
other  horses,  without  being  previously  scalded.  Some  per- 
sons have  a  most  reprehensible  practice  of  driving  their 
horses  into  ponds  to  drink,  while  attached  to  each  other  by 
their  gearing  or  harness;  many  have  been  drowned  in  con- 
sequence. This  class  of  men  have  also  a  most  abominable 
propensity  for  giving  drugs  of  various  kinds;  a  stern  injunc- 
tion should  be  laid  against  it.  The  plan  of  cutting  their  hay 
into  chaff  is  to  be  recommended,  as  it  saves  waste;  where 
this  is  not  done,  the  quantity  of  food  destroyed,  but  not  con- 
sumed, in  cart  stables  is  enormous. 


112  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 


CHAPTER    VIII 


DISEASES   OF   HORSES. 

IT  may  be  readily  supposed  that  the  animal  doomed  to 
the  manner  of  living  which  every  variety  of  the  horse  experi- 
ences, will  be  peculiarly  exposed  to  numerous  forms  of  suf- 
fering; every  natural  evil  will  be  aggravated,  and  many  new 
and  formidable  sources  of  pain  and  death  will  be  super- 
added. 

Interest  and  humanity  require  that  we  should  become  ac- 
quainted with  the  nature,  and  causes,  and  remedy  of  the  dis- 
eases of  the  horse. 

The  principal  diseases  of  the  horse  are  connected  with  the 
circulatory  system.  From  the  state  of  habitual  excitement 
in  which  the  animal  is  kept,  in  order  to  enable  him  to  execute 
his  task,  the  heart  and  the  blood-vessels  will  often  act  too 
impetuously;  the  vital  fluid  will  be  hurried  along  too  rap- 
idly, either  through  the  frame  generally  or  some  particular 
part  of  it,  and  there  will  be  congestion,  accumulation  of  blood 
in  that  part,  or  inflammation,  either  local  or  general,  disturb- 
ing the  functions  of  some  organ  or  of  the  whole  frame. 

Congestion. 

Take  a  young  horse  on  his  first  entrance  into  the  stables ; 
feed  him  somewhat  highly,  and  what  is  the  consequence? 
He  has  swellings  of  the  legs,  or  inflammation  of  the  joints, 
or  perhaps  of  the  lungs.  Take  a  horse  that  has  lived  some- 
what above  his  work,  and  gallop  him  to  the  top  of  his  speed: 
his  nervous  system  becomes  highly  excited — the  heart  beats 
with  fearful  rapidity — the  blood  is  pumped  into  the  lungs 
faster  than  they  can  discharge  it — the  pulmonary  vessels 
become  gorged,  fatigued,  and  utterly  powerless — the  blood, 
arrested  in  its  course,  becomes  viscid,  and  death  speedily 
ensues.  We  have  but  one  chance  of  saving  our  patient — the 
instantaneous  and  copious  abstraction  of  blood;  and  only  one 
means  of  preventing  the  recurrence  of  this  dangerous  state  ; 
namely,  not  suffering  too  great  an  accumulation  of  the  san- 
guineous fluid  by  over-feeding,  and  by  regular  and  system- 


STUD  BOOK.  113 

atic  exercise,  which  will  inure  the  circulatory  vessels  to 
prompt  and  efficient  action  when  they  are  suddenly  called 
upon  to  exert  themselves.  This  is  an  extreme  case,  but  the 
cause  and  the  remedy  are  sufficiently  plain. 

Again,  the  brain  has  functions  of  the  most  important 
nature  to  discharge,  and  more  blood  flows  through  it  than 
through  any  other  portion  of  the  frame  of  equal  bulk.  In 
order  to  prevent  this  organ  from  being  oppressed  by  a  too 
great  determination  of  blood  to  it,  the  vessels,  although 
*  numerous  are  small,  and  pursue  a  very  circuitous  and  wind- 
ing course.  If  a  horse  highly  fed,  and  full  of  blood,  is  sud- 
denly and  sharply  exercised,  the  course  of  the  blood  is  accel- 
erated in  every  direction,  and  to  the  brain  among  other 
parts.  The  vessels  that  ramify  on  its  surface,  or  penetrate  its 
substance,  are  completely  distended  and  gorged  with  it;  per- 
haps they  are  ruptured,  and  the  effused  blood  presses  upon 
the  brain;  it  presses  upon  the  origins  of  the  nerves,  on  which 
sensation  and  motion  depend,  and  the  animal  suddenly  drops 
powerless.  A  prompt  and  copious  abstraction  of  blood,  or, 
in  other  words,  a  diminution  of  this  pressure,  can  alone  save 
the  patient  Here  is  the  nature,  the  cause,  and  the  treat- 
ment of 

Apoplexy. 

Sometimes  this  disease  assumes  a  different  form.  The 
horse  has  not  been  performing  more  than  his  ordinary  work, 
or  perhaps  he  may  not  have  been  out  of  the  stable.  He  is 
found  with  his  head  drooping  and  his  vision  impaired.  He 
is  staggering  about.  He  falls,  and  lies  half-unconscious,  or 
he  struggles  violently  and  dangerously.  There  is  the  same 
congestion  of  blood  in  the  head,  the  same  pressure  on  the 
nervous  organs,  but  produced  by  a  different  cause.  He  has 
been  accustomed  habitually  to  overload  his  stomach,  or  he 
was,  on  the  previous  day,  kept  too  long  without  his  food,  and 
then  he  fell  ravenously  upon  it,  and  ate  until  his  stomach  was 
completely  distended  and  unable  to  propel  forward  its  ac- 
cumulated contents.  Thus  distended,  its  blood-vessels  are 
compressed,  and  the  circulation  through  them  is  impeded,  or 
altogether  suspended.  The  blood  is  still  forced  on  by  the 
heart,  and  driven  in  accumulated  quantity  to  other  organs, 
the  brain  among  the  rest;  and  there  congestion  takes  place, 
as  just  described,  and  the  animal  becomes  sleepy,  uncon- 
scious, and,  if  he  is  not  speedily  relieved,  he  dies.  This,  too, 
is  apoplexy;  the  horseman  calls  it 


114:  THE  OEANGE  COUNTY 


Stomach.  Staggers. 

Its  cause  is  improper  feeding.  The  division  of  the  hours 
of  labor,  and  the  introduction  of  the  nose-bag,  have  much  dim- 
inished the  frequency  of  its  occurrence.  The  remedies  are 
plain;  bleeding,  physicing,  and  the  removal  of  the  contents 
of  the  stomach  by  means  of  a  pump  contrived  for  that  pur- 
pose, 

Congestions  of  Other  Kinds 

occasionally  present  themselves.  It  is  no  uncommon  thing 
for  the  blood  to  loiter  in  the  complicated  vessels  of  the 

Liver, 

until  the  covering  of  that  viscus  has  burst,  and  an  accumula- 
tion of  coagulated  black  blood  has  presented  itself.  This 
congestion  constitutes  the 

Swelled  Legs 

to  which  so  many  horses  are  subject  when  they  stand  too 
long  idle  in  the  stable;  and  it  is  a  source  of  many  of  the  ac- 
cumulations of  serous  fluid  in  various  parts  of  the  body,  and 
particularly  in  the  chest,  the  abdomen,  and  the  brain. 

Inflammation  is  opposed  to  congestion,  as  consisting  in  an 
active  state  of  the  capillary  arterial  vessels;  the  blood  rushes 
through  them  with  far  greater  rapidity  than  in  health,  from 
the  excited  state  of  the  nervous  system  by  which,  they  are 
supplied. 

Inflammation 

is  either  locator  diffused.  It  may  be  confined  to  one  organ, 
or  to  a  particular  portion  of  that  organ;  it  may  involve  many 
neighboring  ones,  or  it  may  be  spread  over  the  whole  frame. 
In  the  latter  case  it  assumes  the  name  of 

Fever. 

Fever  is  general  or  constitutional  inflammation,  and  it  is  said 
to  be 

Sympathetic,  or  Symptomatic 

when  it  can  be  traced  to  some  local  affection  or  cause,  and 


STUD  BOOK.  115 


Idiopathic 

when  we  cannot  so  trace  it  The  truth  probably  is,  that 
every- fever  has  its  local  cause;  but  we  have  not  a  sufficient 
knowledge  of  the  animal  economy  to  discover  that  cause. 

Inflammation  may  be  considered  with  reference  to  the 
membranes  which  it  attacks. 

The  Mucous  Membrane 

line  all  the  cavities  that  communicate  with  the  external  sur- 
face of  the  body.  There  is  frequent  inflammation  of  the 
membrane  of  the  mouth. 

Blain,  or  Glysynthrax, 

is  a  vesicular  enlargement  which  runs  along  the  side  of  the 
tongue.  Its  cause  is  unknown.  It  should  be  lanced  freely 
and  deeply,  and  some  aperient  medicine  administered. 

Barbs,  or  Paps, 

are  smaller  enlargements,  found  more  in  the  neighborhood  of 
the  bridle  of  the  tongue.  They  should  never  be  touched  with 
any  instrument;  a  little  cooling  medicine  will  generally  re- 
move them. 

Lampas 

is  inflammation  of  the  palate,  or  enlargement  of  the  bars  of 
the  palate.  The  roof  of  the  mouth  may  be  slightly  lanced,  or 
a  little  aperient  medicine  administered;  but  the  sensibility  of 
the  mouth  should  never  be  destroyed  by  the  application  of 
the  heated  iron. 

Canker,  and  Wounds  in  the  Mouth, 

from  various  causes,  will  be  best  remedied  by  diluted  tinc- 
ture of  myrrh,  or  a  weak  solution  of  alum. 

Foreign  Bodies  in  the  Gullet 

may  be  generally  removed  by  means  of  the  probang  used  in 
the  hove  of  cattle;  or  the  oesophagus  may  be  opened,  and  the 
obstructing  body  taken  out 

It  is  on  the  mucous  membranes  that 


116  THE   OEANGE   COUNTY 


Poisons 

principally  exert  their  influence.  The  yew  is  the  most  fre- 
quent vegetable  poison.  The  horse  may  be  saved  by  timely 
recourse  to  equal  parts  of  vinegar  and  water  ejected  into  the 
stomach,  after  the  poison  has  been  as  much  as  possible  re- 
moved by  means  of  the  stomach-pump.  For  arsenic  or  cor- 
rosive sublimate  there  is  rarely  any  antidote. 

Spasmodic  Colic 

is  too  frequently  produced  by  exposure  to  cold,  the  drinking 
of  cold  water,  or  the  use  of  too  much  green  meat.  The  horse 
should  be  walked  about,  strong  friction  used  to  the  belly, 
and  spirit  of  turpentine  given  in  doses  of  two  ounces,  with  an 
ounce  each  of  laudanum  and  spirit  of  nitrous  aether,  in  warm 
water,  ale  or  gruel.  If  the  spasm  is  not  soon  relieved,  the 
animal  should  be  bled,  and  injections  of  warm  water  with  a 
solution  of  aloes  thrown  up,  if  constipation  exists.  This  spas- 
modic action  of  the  bowels,  when  long  continued,  is  liable  to 
produce 

Introsusception,  or  entanglement, 
of  them;  and  the  case  is  then  hopeless. 

Superpurgation 

often  follows  the  administration  of  a  too  strong  or  improper 
dose  of  physic.  The  torture  which  it  produces  will  be  evi- 
dent by  the  agonized  expression  of  the  countenance,  and  the 
frequent  looking  at  the  flanks.  Plenty  of  thin  starch  or 
arrowroot  should  be  given  both  by  the  mouth  and  by  injec- 
tion; and  twelve  hours  having  passed  without  relief  being 
experienced,  chalk,  catechu,  and  opium,  should  be  added  to 
the  gruel 

Worms 

in  the  intestines  are  not  often  productive  of  much  mischief, 
except  they  exist  in  very  great  quantities.  Small  doses  of 
emetic  tartar  or  calomel,  with  a  little  ginger,  may  be  given 
to  the  horse  half  an  hour  before  his  first  meal,  in  order  to 
expel  the  round  white  worm;  it  must  be  worked  off  with  lin- 
seed-oil or  aloes,  and  injections  of  linseed-oil  or  aloes  will 
usually  remove  the  ascarides,  or  needle-worms. 


STUD  BOOK.  117 

The  Respiratory  Passages 
are  all  lined  by  the  mucous  membrane. 
Catarrh, 

or  cold,  inflammation  of  the  upper  air  passages,  should  never 
be  long  neglected.  A  few  mashes  or  a  little  medicine  will 
usually  remove  it.  If  it  is  neglecetd,  and,  occasionally,  in 
defiance  of  all  treatment,  it  will  degenerate  into  other  dis- 
eases. The  larynx  may  become  the  principal  seat  of  inflam- 
mation. 

Laryngitis 


will  be  shown  by  extreme  difficulty  of  breathing,  accom- 
panied by  a  strange  roaring  noise,  and  an  evident  enlargement 
and  great  tenderness  of  the  larynx  when  felt  externally.  The 
windpipe  must  be  opened  in  such  case,  and  the  best  advice 
will  be  necessary.  Sometimes  the  subdivisions  of  the  trachea, 
before  or  when  it  first  enters  the  lungs,  will  be  the  part 
affected,  and  we  have  bronchitis.  This  is  characterized  by  a 
quick  and  hard  breathing,  and  a  peculiar  wheezing  sound, 
with  the  coughing  up  of  mucus.  Here,  too,  decisive  meas- 
ures must  be  adopted,  and  a  skillful  practitioner  employed. 
His  assistance  is  equally  necessary  in 

Distemper,  Influenza  and  Epidemic  Catarrh, 

names  indicating  varieties  of  the  same  disease,  and  the  pro- 
duct of  atmospheric  influence;  differing  to  a  certain  degree 
in  every  season,  but  in  all  characterized  by  intense  inflam- 
mation of  the  mucous  surfaces,  and  rapid  and  utter  prostra- 
tion of  strength,  and  in  all  demanding  the  abatement  of  that 
inflammation,  and  yet  little  expenditure  of  vital  power. 
Cough  may  degenerate  into 

Inflammation  of  the  Lungs  ; 

or  this  fearful  malady  may  be  developed  without  a  single 
premonitory  symptom,  and  prove  fatal  in  twenty-four  or  even 
in  twelve  hours.  It  is  mostly  characterized  by  deathly  cold- 
ness of  the  extremities,  expansion  of  the  nostril,  redness  of 
its  lining  membrane,  singularly  anxious  countenance,  con- 
stant gazing  at  the  flank,  and  an  unwillingness  to  move.  A 
successful  treatment  of  such  a  case  can  be  founded  only  on 


118  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

the  most  prompt  and  fearless  and  decisive  measures;  the 
lancet  should  be  freely  used.  Counter-irritants  should  follow 
as  soon  as  the  violence  of  the  disease  is  in  the  slighest  degree 
abated;  sedatives  must  succeed  to  them;  and  fortunate  will 
he  be  who  often  saves  his  patient  after  all  the  decisive  symp- 
toms of  pneumonia  are  once  developed. 

Among  the  consequences  of  these  severe  affections  of  the 
lungs,  are 

Chronic  Cough, 

not  always  much  diminishing  the  usefulness  of  the  horse,  but 
strangely  aggravated  at  times  by  any  fresh  accession  of 
catarrh,  and  too  often  degenerating  into 

Thick  Wind, 

which  always  materially  interferes  with  the  speed  of  the  horse, 
and  in  a  great  proportion  of  cases  terminates  in  broken  wind. 
It  is  rare,  indeed,  that  either  of  these  diseases  admits  of  cure. 
That  obstruction  in  some  part  of  the  respiratory  canal,  which 
varies  in  almost  every  horse,  and  produces  the  peculiar 
sound  termed  roaring,  is  also  rarely  removed.  Hearing  is  a 
malady  of  such  frequent  occurrence  and  such  disastrous  con- 
sequences, that  it  will  be  found  more  discursively  treated 
upon  in  the  concluding  pages. 

Glanders, 

the  most  destructive  of  all  diseases  to  which  the  horse  is  ex- 
posed, is  the  consequence  of  breathing  the  atmosphere  of  foul  and 
vitiated  stables.  It  is  the  winding  up  of  almost  every  other 
disease,  and  in  every  stage  it  is  most  contagious.  Its  most 
prominent  symptoms  are  a  small  but  constant  discharge  of 
sticky  matter  from  the  nose;  an  enlargement  and  induration 
of  the  glands  beneath  and  within  the  lower  jaw,  on  one  or 
both  sides;  and  before  the  termination  of  the  disease  chan- 
crous  inflammation  of  the  nostril  on  the  same  side  with  the 
enlarged  gland.  Its  contagiousness  should  never  be  forgot- 
ten, for  if  a  glandered  horse  is  once  introduced  into  a  stable, 
almost  every  inhabitant  of  that  stable  will  sooner  or  later 
become  infected  and  die. 

The  Urinary  and  Genital  Organs 

are  also  lined  by  mucous  membranes.  The  horse  is  subject 
to 


STUD   BOOK.  119 


Inflammation  of  the  Kidneys, 

from  eating  musty  oats  or  mow-burnt  hay,  from  exposure  to 
cold,  injuries  of  the  loins,  and  the  imprudent  use  of  diure- 
tics. Bleeding,  physic,  and  counter-irritants  over  the  region 
of  the  loins  should  be  had  recourse  to. 

Diabetes,  or  Profuse  Staling, 

is  difficult  to  treat.  The  inflfl.TYmnfl.Hnn  that  may  exist  should 
first  be  subdued,  and  then  opium,  catechu,  and  the  Uva  ursi 
administered. 

Inflammation  of  the  Bladder 

will  be  best  alleviated  by  mucilaginous  drinks  of  almost  any 
kind,  linseed-gruel  taking  precedence  of  all  others. 

Inflammation  of  the  Neck  of  the  Bladder, 

evinced  by  the  frequent  and  painful  discharge  of  small  quan- 
tities of  urine,  will  yield  only  to  the  abstraction  of  blood  and 
the  exhibition  of  opium.  A  catheter  may  be  easily  passed 
into  the  bladder  of  the  mare,  and  urine  evacuated;  but  it 
will  require  a  skilled  veterinary  surgeon  to  effect  this  in  the 
horse. 

A  Stone  in  the  Bladder 

is  readily  detected  by  the  practitioner,  and  may  be  extracted 
with  comparative  ease.  The  sheath  of  the  penis  is  often  dis- 
eased, from  the  presence  of  corrosive  mucous  matter.  This 
may  easily  be  removed  by  warm  soap  and  water. 

To  the  mucous  membranes  belong  the  conjunctiva!  tunic  of 
the  eye;  and  the  diseases  of  the  eye  generally  may  be  here 
considered. 

A  Scabby  Itchiness 

on  the  edge  of  the  eyelids  may  be  cured  by  a  diluted  nitrated 
ointment  of  mercury. 

Warts 

should  be  cut  off  with  the  scissors,  and  the  roots  touched  with 
lunar  caustic. 

Inflammation  of  the  Haw 

should  be  abated  by  the  employment  of  cooling  lotions,  but 


120  THE  ORANGE   COUNTY 

that  useful  defence  of  the  eye  should  never,  if  possible,  be 
removed. 

Common  Ophthalmia 

will  yield  as  readily  to  cooling  applications  as  inflammation 
of  the  same  organ  in  any  other  animal,  but  there  is  another 
species  of  inflammation  commencing  in  the  same  way  as  the 
first,  and  for  awhile  apparently  yielding  to  treatment,  but 
which  changes  from  eye  to  eye,  and  returns  again  and  again, 
until  blindness  is  produced  in  one  or  both  organs  of  vision. 
The  most  frequent  cause  is  hereditary  predisposition.  The 
reader  cannot  be  too  often  reminded  that  the  qualities  of  the 
sire,  good  or  bad,  descend,  and  scarcely  changed,  to  his  off- 
spring. How 

Moon-Blindness 

was  first  produced  no  one  knows,  but  its  continuance  in  our 
stables  is  to  be  traced  to  this  cause  principally,  or  almost 
alone;  and  it  pursues  its  course  until  cataract  is  produced, 
for  which  there  is  no  remedy. 

Gutta  Serena  (Palsy  of  the  Optic  Nerve) 

is  sometimes  observed,  and  many  have  been  deceived,  for  the 
eye  retains  its  perfect  transparency.  Here,  also,  medical 
treatment  is  of  no  avail. 

The  serous  membranes  are  of  great  importance.  The  brain 
and  spinal  marrow,  with  the  origins  of  the  nerves,  are  sur- 
rounded by  them;  so  are  the  heart,  the  lungs,  the  intestinal 
canal,  and  the  organs  whose  office  it  is  to  prepare  the  gene- 
rative fluid. 

Inflammation  of  the  Brain. 

Mad  staggers  fall  under  this  division.  It  is  inflammation 
of  the  meninges,  or  envelopes  of  the  brain,  produced  by 
over-exertion,  or  by  any  of  the  causes  of  general  fever,  and 
it  is  characterized  by  the  wildest  delirium.  Nothing  but 
the  most  profuse  blood-letting,  active  purgation,  and  blister- 
ing the  head,  will  afford  the  slightest  hope  of  success. 

Tetanus,  or  Lock-Jaw, 

is  a  constant  spasm  of  all  the  voluntary  muscles,  and  particu- 
larly those  of  the  neck,  the  spine,  and  the  head,  arising  from 
the  injury  of  some  nervous  fibril — that  injury  spreading  to 


STUD  BOOK.  121 

. 

the  origin  of  the  nerve — the  brain  becoming  affected,  and 
universal  and  unbroken  spasmodic  action  being  the  result. 
Bleeding,  physicing,  blistering  the  course  of  the  spine,  and 
the  administration  of  opium  in  enormous  doses,  will  alone 
give  any  chance  of  cure. 

Epilepsy 

is  not  a  frequent  disease  in  the  horse,  but  it  seldom  admits 
of  cure.  It  is  also  very  apt  to  return  at  the  most  distant  and 
uncertain  intervals. 

Palsy 

is  the  suspension  of  nervous  power.  It  is  usually  confined 
to  the  hinder  limbs,  and  sometimes  to  one  limb  only. 
Bleeding,  physicing,  antimonial  medicines,  and  blistering  of 
the  spine,  are  most  likely  to  produce  a  cure,  but  they  too 
often  utterly  fail  of  success. 

Babies,  or  Madness, 

is  evidently  a  disease  of  the  nervous  system,  and  once  being 
developed,  is  altogether  without  remedy.  The  utter  destruc- 
tion of  the  bitten  part  with  the  lunar  caustic,  soon  after  the 
infliction  of  the  wound,  will,  however,  in  a  great  majority  of 
cases,  prevent  that  development. 

Pleurisy, 

or  inflammation  of  the  serous  covering  of  the  lungs  and  the 
lining  of  the  cavity  of  the  chest,  is  generally  connected  with 
inflammation  of  the  substance  of  the  lungs;  but  it  occasion- 
ally exists  independent  of  any  state  of  those  organs.  The 
pulse  is  in  this  case  hard  and  full,  instead  of  being  oppressed; 
the  extremities  are  not  so  intensely  cold  as  in  pneumonia; 
the  membrane  of  the  nose  is  little  reddened,  and  the  sides 
are  tender.  It  is  of  importance  to  distinguish  accurately  be- 
tween the  two,  because  in  pleurisy  more  active  purgation 
may  be  pursued,  and  the  effect  of  counter-irritants  will 
be  greater,  from  their  proximity  to  the  seat  of  disease. 
Copious  bleedings  and  sedatives  here  also  should  be  had  re- 
course too.  It  is  in  connection  with  pleurisy  that  a  serous 
fluid  is  effused  in  the  chest,  the  existence  and  the  extent  of 
which  may  be  ascertained  by  the  practiced  ear,  and  which  in 
many  cases  may  be  safely  evacuated. 

The  heart  is  surrounded  by  a  serous  membrane — the  peri- 


122  THE   OKANGE   COUNTY 

cardium,  that  secretes  a  fluid,  the  interposition  of  which  pre- 
vents any  injurious  friction  or  concussion  in  the  constant 
action  of  this  organ.  If  this  fluid  increases  to  a  great  de- 
gree, it  constitutes 

Dropsy  of  the  Heart, 

and  the  action  of  the  heart  may  be  impeded  or  destroyed. 
In  an  early  stage  it  is  difficult  to  detect,  and  in  every  stage 
difficult  to  cure. 

The  heart  itself  is  often  diseased;  it  sympathizes  with 
the  inflammatory  affection  of  every  organ,  and  therefore  is 
itself  occasionally  inflamed. 

Carditis,  or  Inflammation  of  the  Heart, 

is  characterized  by  the  strength  of  its  pulsations,  the  tremor 
of  which  can  be  seen,  and  the  sound  can  be  heard  at  a  dis- 
tance of  several  yards.  Speedy  and  copious  blood-letting 
will  afford  the  only  hope  of  cure  in  such  a  case. 

The  outer  coat  of  the  stomach  and  intestines  is  composed 
of  a  serous  membrane — the  peritoneum,  which  adds  strength 
and  firmness  to  their  textures,  attaches  and  supports  and 
confines  them  in  their  respective  places,  and  secretes  a  fluid 
that  prevents  all  injurious  friction  between  them.  This  coat 
is  exceedingly  subject  to  inflammation,  which  is  somewhat 
gradual  in  its  approach.  The  pulse  is  quickened,  but  small; 
the  legs  cold;  the  belly  tender;  there  is  a  constant  pain,  and 
every  motion  increases  it;  there  is  also  rapid  and  great 
prostration  of  strength.  These  symptoms  will  sufficiently 
characterize 

Peritoneal  Inflammation. 

Bleeding,  aperient  injections,  and  extensive  counter-irrita- 
tion, will  afford  the  only  hope  of  cure. 
The  time  for 

Castration 

varies  according  to  the  breed  and  destiny  of  the  horse.  On 
the  farmer's  colt  it  may  be  effected  when  the  animal  is  not 
more  than  four  or  five  months  old,  and  it  is  comparatively 
seldom  that  a  fatal  case  occurs.  For  other  horses,  much  de- 
pends on  their  growth,  and  particularly  on  the  development 
of  their  fore- quarters.  An  improvement  has  been  effected 
in  the  old  mode  of  castrating,  by  opening  the  scrotum,  and 


STUD   BOOK.  123 

the  division  of  the  cord  by  the  knife,  instead  of  the  heated 
iron. 

Synovial  or  Joint  Membranes 

are  interposed  between  the  divisions  of  the  bones,  and  fre- 
quently between  the  tendons,  in  order  to  secrete  a  certain 
fluid  that  shall  facilitate  motion  and  obviate  friction.  Occa- 
sionally the  membrane  is  lacerated,  and  the  synovia  escapes. 
This  is  termed 

Opened  Joint, 

and  violent  inflammation  rapidly  ensues.  The  duty  of  the 
practitioner  is  to  close  this  opening  as  quickly  as  possible. 
Superacetate  of  lead  one  part,  and  water  four  parts,  may  be 
applied  or  injected  into  the  cavity,  frequently  with  success. 
A  great  deal  of  inflammation  and  engorgement  are  produced 
around  the  opening,  partially,  if  not  altogether,  closing  it,  or 
at  least  enabling  the  coagulated  synovia  to  occupy  and 
obliterate  it  Perhaps,  in  order  to  secure  the  desired  result, 
the  whole  of  the  joint  should  be  blistered.  After  this  a 
bandage  should  be  firmly  applied,  and  kept  on  as  long  as  it 
is  wanted.  If  there  is  any  secondary  eruption  of  the  synovia, 
the  cautery  must  be  had  recourse  to. 

Spavin 

is  an  enlargement  of  the  inner  side  of  the  hock.  The  splint- 
bones  support  the  inferior  layer  of  those  of  the  hock,  and  as 
they  sustain  a  very  unequal  degree  of  concussion  and  weight, 
the  cartilaginous  substance  which  unites  them  to  the  shank- 
bone  takes  on  inflammation.  It  becomes  bony  instead  of 
cartilaginous;  and  the  disposition  to  this  change  being  set  up 
in  the  part,  bony  matter  continues  to  be  deposited,  until  a 
very  considerable  enlargement  takes  place,  known  by  the 
name  of  spavin,  and  there  is  considerable  lameness  in  the 
hock-joint  The  bony  tumor  is  blistered,  and  probably 
fired,  but  there  is  no  diminution  of  the  lameness  until  the 
parts  have  adapted  themselves,  after  a  considerable  process 
of  time,  to  the  altered  duty  required  of  them,  and  then  the 
lameness  materially  diminishes,  and  the  horse  becomes,  to  a 
very  considerable  extent,  useful  Curb  is  an  enlargement  of 
the  back  of  the  hock,  three  or  four  inches  below  its  point  It 
is  a  strain  of  the  ligament  which  there  binds  the  tendons 
down  in  their  place.  The  patient  should  be  subjected  to  al- 
most absolute  rest;  a  blister  should  be  applied  over  the  back 


124  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

of  the  tumor,  and  occasionally  firing  will  be  requisite  to 
complete  the  cure.  Near  the  fetlock,  and  where  the  tendons 
are  exposed  to  injury  from  pressure  or  friction,  little  bags  or 
sacs  are  placed,  from  which  a  lubricating  mucous  fluid  con- 
stantly escapes.  In  the  violent  tasks  which  the  horse  occa- 
sionally has  to  perform,  these  become  bruised,  inflamed, 
enlarged,  and  hardened,  and  are  termed 

Windgalls. 

They  blemish  the  horse,  but  are  no  cause  of  lameness  after 
the  inflammation  has  subsided,  unless  they  become  very  much 
enlarged.  The  cautery  will  then  be  the  best  cure.  Immedi- 
ately above  the  hock,  enlargements  of  a  similar  nature  are 
sometimes  found,  and  as  they  project  both  inwardly  and  out- 
wardly, they  are  termed 

Thorough-pins. 

They  are  seldom  a  cause  of  lameness;  but  they  indicate 
great,  and  perhaps  injurious,  exertion  of  the  joint.  On  the 
inside  of  the  hock  a  tumor  of  this  kind,  but  of  a  more  serious 
nature,  is  found.  It  is  one  of  these  enlarged  mucous  bags, 
but  very  deeply  seated,  and  the  subcutaneous  vein  of  the 
hock  passing  over  it,  the  course  of  the  blood  through  the 
vein  is  thus  in  some  measure  arrested,  and  a  portion  of  the 
vessel  becomes  distended.  This  is  a  serious  evil,  since,  from 
the  deep-seatedness  of  the  mucous  bag,  it  is  almost  impos- 
sible to  act  effectually  upon  it  It  is  termed 

Bog,  or  Blood  Spavin. 

The  cellular  tissue  which  fills  the  interstices  of  the  va- 
rious organs,  or  enters  into  their  texture,  is  the  seat  of 
many  diseases.  From  the  badness  of  the  harness,  or  the 
brutality  of  the  attendant,  the  poll  of  the  horse  becomes 
contused.  Inflammation  is  set  up;  considerable  swelling 
ensues;  an  ulcerative  process  soon  commences,  and  chasms 
and  sinuses  of  the  most  frightful  extent  begin  to  be  formed. 
The  withers,  also,  are  occasionally  bruised,  and  the  same 
process  takes  place  there,  and  sinuses  penetrate  deep  be- 
neath the  shoulder,  and  the  bones  of  the  withers  are  fre- 
quently exposed.  These  abscesses  are  termed 


STUD  BOOK.  125 

Poll  Evil,  and  Fistulous  Withers, 

and  in  the  treatment  of  them  the  horse  is  often  tortured 
to  a  dreadful  extent  A  better  mode  of  management  has, 
however,  been  introduced;  setons  are  passed  through  the 
most  dependent  parts;  no  collection  of  sanious  fluid  is  per- 
mitted to  exist,  and  milder  stimulants  are  applied  to  the 
surface  of  the  ulcer. 

An  Abscess 

of  a  peculiar  character  is  found  between  the  branches  of 
the  lower  jaw  in  young  horses.  It  is  preceded  by  some 
degree  of  fever.  It  is  usually  slow  in  its  progress,  but  at 
length  it  attains  a  considerable  size,  including  the  whole  of 
the  cellular  tissue  in  that  neighborhood.  There  is  one 
uniform  mass  of  tumefaction.  This  is 

Strangles. 

It  seems  to  be  an  effort  of  Nature  to  get  rid  of  something 
that  oppresses  the  constitution,  and  the  treatment  of  it  is 
now  simple  and  effectual  It  is  encouraged  by  fomentations 
and  blisters.  It  is  punctured  as  soon  as  the  fluctuation  of  a 
fluid  within  it  can  be  fairly  detected;  the  puss  speedily  es- 
capes, and  there  is  an  end  of  the  matter. 

Farcy. 

While  the  arterial  capillaries  are  engaged  in  building  up 
the  frame,  the  absorbents  are  employed  in  removing  that 
which  is  not  only  useless,  but  would  be  poisonous  and  de- 
structive. They  take  up  the  matter  of  glanders  and  of  every 
ulcerating  surface,  and  they  are  occasionally  irritated,  in- 
flamed, and  ulcerated,  from  the  acrimonious  nature  of  the 
poison  which  they  carry;  the  absorbents  are  furnished  with 
numerous  valves;  the  fluid  is  for  awhile  arrested  by  them, 
and  there  the  inflammation  is  greatest,  and  ulceration  takes 
place.  This  is  the  history  of  the  farcy-cords  and  buds. 
Farcy  is  a  highly  contagious  disease,  whether  or  not  it  be 
connected  with  glanders.  It,  however,  occasionally  admits 
of  cure,  from  the  application  of  the  cautery  to  the  buds, 
and  the  administration  of  the  corrosive  sublimate  or  the  sul- 
phate of  iron  internally. 

The   skin  of  the  horse  is    subject  to  various  diseases 
Large  pimples  or  lumps  suddenly  appear  on  it,  and  after  re- 
maining a  few  days,  the  cuticle  peels  oflj  and  a  circular  scaly 
spot  is  left     This  is  called 


126  THE  CHANGE   COUNTY 


Surfeit. 

The  cause  is  obscure,  but  principally  referable  to  indi- 
gestion. A  slight  bleeding  will  always  be  serviceable.  Physic 
rarely  does  good,  but  alteratives  composed  of  nitre,  black 
antimony,  and  sulphur,  will  be  very  beneficial. 

Mange 

is  a  disease  of  a  different  character;  it  is  the  curse  of  the 
stable  into  which  it  enters,  for  it  will  almost  certainly  affect 
every  horse.  Thorough  dressings  with  Barbadoes  tar  and 
unseed  oil,  in  the  proportion  of  one  of  the  former  to  three 
of  the  latter,  will  be  the  most  effectual  external  application, 
while  alteratives  and  physic  should  be  given  internally 

Hide-Bound 

is  a  very  appropriate  term  for  a  peculiar  sticking  of  the  hide 
to  the  ribs,  when  a  horse  is  out  of  condition.  The  subcutan- 
eous adipose  matter  is  all  absorbed.  The  alterative  above 
recommended  will  be  very  useful  here. 

The  legs,  and  the  hind  ones  more  than  the  fore  ones,  are 
subject  to  frequent,  and  great,  and  obstinate  swellings,  at- 
tended with  great  pain  and  considerable  fever.  It  is  acute 
inflammation  of  the  cellular  substance  of  the  legs.  Physic 
and  diuretics  and  tonics,  if  there  is  the  slightest  appearance 
of  debility,  are  the  proper  means  of  cure.  Friction  and  ban- 
dages will  also  be  used  occasionally.  There  are  two  causes, 
diametrically  opposed  to  each  other,  which  occasion  the  legs 
to  swell:  an  inspissated  or  plethoric  condition  of  the  blood, 
the  other,  debility  of  the  system.  The  remedy  must  depend 
on  the  cause;  in  the  first  case  moderate  doses  of  physic,  com- 
bined with  diuretics,  according  to  a  formula  given  at  the 
conclusion;  in  the  other  case,  tonics,  with  good  keep,  are  ne- 
cessary. 

Grease 

is  an  undue  secretion  of  the  fluid  which  was  designed  to  lu- 
bricate the  skin  of  the  heels;  and  that  secretion  is  also  altered 
in  quality.  The  hind  legs  begin  to  swell — a  fluid  exudes 
from  the  heels — the  hairs  of  the  heels  become  erect  like  so 
many  bristles,  and  the  skin  of  the  heel  is  hot  and  greasy. 
Soon  afterwards  cracks  appear  across  the  heel :  they  dis- 
charge a  thick  and  offensive  matter,  and  then  deepen.  They 


STUD   BOOK.  127 

spread  up  the  leg,  and  so  does  the  tumefaction  of  the  part. 
In  process  of  time  the  skin,  inflamed  and  ulcerated,  under- 
goes an  alteration  of  structure;  prominences  or  granulations 
appear  on  it,  assuming  the  appearance  of  a  collection  of 
grapes,  or  the  skin  of  a  pine-apple.  They  increase,  and  a 
fetid  discharge  appears  from  the  crevices  between  them. 

The  cause  is  generally  neglect  of  the  horse.  He  is  suffered 
to  stand  in  the  stable  with  his  heels  cold  and  wet,  which 
necessarily  disposes  them  to  inflammation  and  disease. 

In  the  first  stage  of  grease,  bran,  or  turnip,  or  carrot 
poultices  will  be  serviceable,  with  moderate  physic.  Then 
astringents  must  be  employed;  and  the  best  are  alum  or  sul- 
phate of  copper  in  powder,  mixed  with  several  times  the 
quantity  of  bole  Armenian,  and  sprinkled  on  the  sores. 
These  should  be  alternated  every  three  or  four  days.  The 
grapy  heels  are  a  disgrace  to  the  stable  in  which  they  are 
found,  and  admit  not  of  radical  cure. 

Splints 

are  bony  enlargements,  generally  on  the  inside  of  the  leg, 
arising  from  undue  pressure  on  the  inner  splint-bone;  and 
this  is  either  caused  by  the  natural  conformation  of  the  leg, 
or  violent  blows  on  it.  These  excrescences  will  often  grad- 
ually disappear,  or  will  yield  to  a  simple  operation,  or  to  the 
application  of  the  hydriodate  of  potash  or  blister  ointments. 

Sprains, 

if  neglected,  ^occasionally  become  very  serious  evils.  Rest, 
warm  fomentations,  poultices,  or,  in  bad  cases,  blistering, 
are  the  usual  remedies. 

WindgaUs, 

if  they  are  of  considerable  size,  or  accompanied  by  much  in- 
flammation or  lameness,  will  find  in  a  blister  the  most  effect- 
ual remedy. 

Sprains  of  the  Fetlock 

demand  prompt  and  severe  blistering  :  nothing  short  of  this 
will  produce  a  permanent  cure. 

Sprains  of  the  Pastern  and  Coffin  Joints 
demand  still  more  prompt  and  decisive  treatment.     If  neg- 


128  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

lected,  or  inefficiently  managed,  the  neighboring  ligaments 
will  be  involved,  more  extensive  inflammation  will  be  set  up, 
and  bony  matter,  under  the  name  of 

Ring-bone, 

will  spread  over  the  pasterns  and  cartilages  of  the  foot. 
Firing  alone  will,  in  the  majority  of  cases,  be  efficient  here. 

Inflammation  of  the  Foot,  or  Acute  Founder. 

In  speaking  of  the  structure  of  the  foot,  the  laminae,  or 
fleshy  plates  on  the  front  and  sides  of  the  coffin-bone,  were 
described.  From  over-exertion,  or  undue  exposure  to  cold  or 
wet,  or  sudden  change  from  cold  to  heat,  inflammation  of 
these  laminae  is  apt  to  occur;  and  a  dreadfully  painful  dis- 
ease it  is.  It  is  easily  detected  by  the  heat  of  the  feet,  and 
the  torture  which  is  produced  by  the  slightest  touch  of 
the  hammer.  The  shoe  must  be  removed,  the  sole  well 
pared  out,  plentiful  bleeding  from  the  toe  had  recourse  to, 
the  foot  well  poulticed,  and  cooling  medicines  resorted  to. 
The  bleeding  should  be  repeated,  if  manifest  benefit  is  not 
procured,  and  cloths  dipped  in  dissolved  nitre,  which  are 
colder  than  the  common  poultice,  should  be  substituted. 
After  this,  a  poultice  around  the  foot  and  pastern  should 
succeed.  Little  food  should  be  given,  and  that  must  consist 
of  mashes  and  a  cooling  diet. 

Pumiced  Feet. 

This  is  one  of  the  consequences  of  inflamed  feet.  The 
sole  of  the  foot  becomes  flattened,  or  even  convex,  by  the 
pressure  of  the  weight  above.  There  is  no  cure  here,  and 
the  only  palliation  of  the  evil  is  obtained  from  the  applica- 
tion of  a  shoe  so  beveled  off  from  the  crust  that  it  shall  not 
press  upon  or  touch  the  sole.  This,  however,  is  only  a  tem- 
porary palliation,  for  the  sole  will  continue  to  project,  and 
the  horse  will  be  useless. 

Contracted  Feet. 

By  this  is  meant  an  increase  in  the  length  of  the  foot, 
and  a  gradual  narrowing  as  the  heels  are  approached;  and, 
as  the  necessary  consequence  of  this,  a  diminution  of  the 
width  of  the  foot,  and  a  concavity  of  the  sole.  In  point  of 
fact,  the  whole  of  the  foot,  including  the  coffin-bone,  be- 


STUD  BOOK.  129 

comes  narrowed,  and  consequently  elongated.  This  change 
of  form  is  accompanied  by  considerable  pain;  the  action  of 
the  horse  is  altered;  there  is  a  shortened  tread,  and  a  hesi- 
tating way  of  putting  the  foot  to  the  ground. 

The  frog  and  heel  would  expand  when  the  weight  of  the 
horse  descends  and  is  thrown  upon  them,  but  the  nailing  oi 
the  shoe  at  the  heels  prevents  it  Thence  the  pain  and  lame- 
ness is  obviated  by  a  very  simple  method,  put  four  or  five 
nails  in  the  shoe  on  the  outside,  and  only  two  on  the  inside. 
There  is  then  sufficient  room  for  the  natural  expansion  to 
take  place,  and  the  foot  and  action  of  the  horse  are  little  or 
not  at  all  changed.  This  is  an  admirable  contrivance,  and 
recourse  should  always  be  had  to  it. 

The  Navicular  Joint  Disease. 

There  are  many  horses  with  open  and  well-formed  feet  that 
are  lame.  In  every  motion  of  the  foot,  there  is  a  great  deal 
of  action  between  the  navicular  bone  and  the  flexor  tendon 
which  passes  over  it,  in  order  to  be  inserted  into  the  navicu- 
lar bone.  From  concussion  or  violent  motion,  the  membrane 
or  the  cartilage  which  covers  the  navicular  bone  is  bruised  or 
abraded,  the  horse  becomes  lame,  and  often  continues  so  for 
life.  This  disease  admits  of  remedy  to  a  very  considerable 
extent;  no  one,  however,  but  a  skillful  veterinary  surgeon  is 
capable  of  successfully  undertaking  it 

Sand-crack 

is  a  division  of  the  crust  of  the  hoof  from  the  upper  part  of 
it  downward.  It  bespeaks  brittleness  of  the  foot,  and  often 
arises  from  a  single  false  step.  If  the  crack  has  not  pene- 
trated through  the  horn,  it  must,  nevertheless,  be  pared  fairly 
out,  and  generally  a  coating  of  pitch  should  be  bound  round 
the  foot  If  the  crack  has  reached  the  quick,  that  must  be 
done  which  ought  to  be  done  in  every  case — a  skillful  surgeon 
should  be  consulted,  otherwise  false  quarter  may  ensue. 

False  Quarter 

is  a  division  of  the  ligament  by  which  the  crust  is  secreted. 
It  is  one  of  the  varieties  of  sand-crack,  and  exceedingly  diffi- 
cult of  cure. 

Tread,  or  Over-reach., 

is  a  clumsy  habit  of  setting  one  foot  upon  or  bruising  the 


130  THE   OBAJSTGE   COUNTY 

other.  It  should  immediately  and  carefully  be  attended  to, 
or  a  bad  case  of  quittor  may  ensue.  Fomentations  in  the  first 
instance,  and,  if  much  inflammation  exists,  poultices,  to  be 
followed  by  a  mild  styptic;  tincture  of  myrrh,  or  Friar's  bal- 
sam, will  soon  effect  a  cure. 

Quittor 

is  the  formation  of  little  pipes  between  the  crust  and  the  hoof, 
by  means  of  which  the  purulent  matter  secreted  from  some 
wound  beneath  the  crust  makes  its  escape.  The  healing  of 
this  and  of  every  species  of  prick  or  wound  in  the  sole  or 
crust,  is  often  exceedingly  difficult. 

Corns 

are  said  to  exist  when  the  posterior  part  of  the  foot  between 
the  external  crust  and  the  bars  is  unnaturally  contracted  and 
becomes  inflamed.  Corns  are  the  consequence  of  continued 
and  unnatural  pressure.  The  cure  of  corns  must  be  attempted 
by  removing  the  cause — namely,  the  pressure. 

Thrush 

is  the  consequence  of  filth  and  unnatural  pressure  on  the  frog. 
It  is  the  cause  and  the  effect  of  contraction,  whether  it  is  found 
in  the  heels  of  the  fore  feet  or  the  hinder  ones.  It  is  not 
difficult  of  cure  when  taken  in  time;  but  when  neglected,  it 
often  becomes  a  very  serious  matter.  Cleanliness,  fomenta- 
tions, dressing  the  part  with  tincture  of  myrrh,  and  frequent 
applications  of  tar,  are  the  best  remedies. 

Canker 

is  the  consequence  of  thrush,  or,  indeed,  of  almost  every 
disease  of  the  foot.  It  is  attended  by  a  greater  or  less  separa- 
tion of  horn,  which  sometimes  leaves  the  whole  of  the  sole 
bare.  This  also,  like  the  diseases  of  the  foot  generally,  is 
difficult  of  cure. 

Few  things  are  more  neglected,  and  yet  of  greater  import- 
ance to  the  comfort  and  durability  of  the  horse,  than  a 
proper  system  of 

Shoeing. 

It  is  necessary  that  the  foot  should  be  defended  from  the 
wear  and  tear  of  the  roads;  but  that  very  defence  too  often 


STUD   BOOK.  181 

entails  on  the  animal  a  degree  of  injury  and  suffering  scarceb 
credible.  The  shoe  is  fixed  to  the  foot,  and  often  interferes 
with  and  limits  the  beautiful  functions  of  that  organ,  and 
thus  causes  much  unnecessary  inflammation  and  mischief. 

The  shoe  of  a  healthy  foot  should  offer  a  perfectly  flat 
surface  to  the  ground.  The  bearing  or  weight  of  the  horse 
will  then  be  diffused  over  the  surface  of  the  shoe,  and  there 
will  be  no  injurious  accumulation  of  it  on  different  points. 
Too  often,  however,  there  is  a  convexity  towards  the  inner 
edge,  which  causes  an  inequality  of  bearing,  which  breaks 
and  destroys  the  crust  and  pinches  the  sensible  parts. 
Kound  the  outer  edge  of  the  shoe,  and  extended  over  two- 
thirds  of  it  on  the  lower  surface,  a  groove  is  sunk,  through 
which  pass  the  nails  for  the  fastening  of  the  shoe.  At  first 
they  somewhat  project,  but  they  are  soon  worn  down  to  the 
level  of  the  shoe,  which,  in  the  healthy  foot,  should  not  vary- 
in  thickness  from  the  heel  to  the  toe. 

The  width  of  .the  shoe  will  depend  on  that  of  the  foot 
The  general  rule  is,  that  it  should  protect  the  sole  from  in- 
jury, and  be  as  wide  at  the  heel  as  the  frog  will  permit. 

The  upper  surface  of  the  shoe  should  be  differently 
formed;  it  should  be  flat  along  the  upper  end,  the  outer  por- 
tion supporting  the  crust,  or,  in  other  words,  the  weight  of 
the  horse,  and  widest  at  the  heel,  so  as  afford  expansion  of 
the  bars  and  the  heels.  The  inner  portion  of  the  shoe  should 
be  beveled  off,  in  order  that,  in  the  descent  of  the  sole,  that 
part  of  the  foot  may  not  be  bruised.  The  owner  of  the  horse 
should  occasionally  be  present  when  the  shoes  are  removed, 
and  he  will  be  too  often  surprised  to  see  how  far  the  smith, 
almost  willfully,  deviates  from  the  right  construction  of  this 
apparently  simple  apparatus.  The  beveled  shoe  is  a  little 
more  troublesome  to  make  and  to  apply  than  that  which  is 
often  used  by  the  village  smith;  but  it  will  be  the  owner's 
fault  if  his  directions  are  not  implicitly  obeyed. 

Even  at  the  commencement  of  the  operation  of  shoeing, 
the  eye  of  the  master  or  the  trustworthy  groom  will  be 

Requisite. 

The  shoe  is  often  torn  from  the  foot  in  a  most  violent  and 
cruel  way.  Scarcely  half  the  clenches  are  raised,  when  the 
smith  seizes  the  shoe  with  his  pincers,  and  forcibly  wrenches 
it  off  The  shrinking  of  the  horse  will  tell  how  much  he 
suffers,  and  the  fragments  of  the  crust  will  also  afford  suffi- 
cient proofs  of  the  mischief  that  has  been  done,  especially 


132  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

when  it  is  recollected  that  every  nail-hole  is  enlarged  by  this 
brutal  force,  and  the  future  safety  of  the  shoe  to  a  greater  or 
less  degree  weakened;  and  pieces  of  the  nail  are  sometimes 
left  in  the  substance  of  the  crust,  which  becomes  the  cause  of 
future  mischief. 

In  the  paring  out  of  the  foot,  also,  there  is  frequently 
great  mischief  done.  The  formidable  butteris  is  still  often 
found  in  the  smithy  of  the  country  farrier,  although  it  is 
banished  from  the  practice  of  every  respectable  operator.  A 
worse  evil  remains,  however.  By  the  butteris  much  of  the 
sole  was  injuriously  removed,  and  the  foot  was  occasionally 
weakened,  but  the  drawing-knife  frequently  left  a  portion  of 
sole  sufficient  to  destroy  the  elasticity  of  the  foot,  and  to  lay 
the  foundation  for  contraction,  corns,  and  permanent  lame- 
ness. One  object,  then,  of  the  looker-on  is  to  ascertain  the 
actual  state  of  the  foot.  On  the  descent  of  the  crust  when 
the  foot  is  placed  on  the  ground,  depends  the  elasticity  and 
healthy  state  of  the  foot;  and  that  maybe  satisfactorily  deter- 
mined by  the  yielding  of  the  sole,  although  to  a  very  slight 
degree,  when  it  is  strongly  pressed  upon  with  the  thumb. 
The  sole  being  pared  out,  the  crust  on  each  side  may  be  low- 
ered, but  never  reduced  to  a  level  with  the  sole;  otherwise 
this  portion  will  be  exposed  to  continual  injury. 

The  heels  often  suffer  considerably  from  the  carelessness, 
or  ignorance  of  the  smith.  The  weight  of  the  horse  is  not 
thrown  equably  on  them,  but  considerably  more  on  the  inner 
than  the  outer  quarter.  The  consequence  of  this  is,  that  the 
inner  heel  is  worn  down  more  than  the  outer,  and  the  foun- 
dation is  laid  for  tenderness,  corns,  and  ulceration.  The 
smith  is  too  often  inattentive  to  this,  and  pares  away  an 
equal  quantity  of  horn  from  the  inner  and  outer  heel,  leaving 
the  former  weaker  and  lower,  and  less  able  to  support  the 
weight  thrown  upon  it. 

Mention  has  already  been  made  of  the  use  of  the  bars  in 
admitting  and  yet  limiting  to  its  proper  extent  the  expansion 
of  the  foot.  The  smith  in  the  majority  of  the  Qountry  forges, 
and  in  too  many  of  those  that  disgrace  the  metropolis,  seems 
to  have  waged  interminable  war  with  these  portions  of  the 
foot,  and  avails  himself  of  every  opportunity  to  pare  them 
down,  or  perfectly  to  destroy  them,  forgetting,  or  never  hav- 
ing learned,  that  the  destruction  of  the  bars  necessarily  leads 
to  contraction,  by  removing  the  chief  impediment  to  it: 

The  horn  between  the  crust  and  the  bar  should  be  well 
pared  out.  Every  one  accustomed  to  horses  must  have  ob- 
served the  great  relief  that  is  given  to  the  horse  with  corns 


STOD  BOOK.  133 

when  this  angle  is  pared  out;  and  yet,  from  some  fatality,  the 
smith  rarely  leaves  it  where  nature  placed  it,  but  cuts  away 
every  portion  of  it. 

The  true  function  of  the  frog  is  easily  understood;  it 
gives  security  to  the  tread,  and  permits  the  expansion  of  the 
heels;  but  the  smith,  although  these  cases  come  before  him 
every  day,  seems  to  be  quite  unaware  of  the  course  which  he 
should  pursue,  and  either  leaves  the  frog  almost  un- 
touched, and  then  it  becomes  bruised  and  injured,  or  he 
pares  it  away,  so  that  it  cannot  come  into  contact  with 
the  ground,  and  consequently  is  not  enabled  to  do  its  duty. 

The  owner  of  the  horse  will  therefore  find  it  his  interest 
occasionally  to  visit  the  forge,  and,  guided  by  the  simple 
principles  which  have  been  stated,  he  will  seldom  err  in  his 
opinion  of  what  is  going  forward  there.  He  should  impress 
two  principles  deeply  on  his  mind:  that  a  great  deal  more 
depends  on  the  paring  out  of  the  foot  than  in  the  construc- 
tion of  the  shoe;  and  that  few  shoes,  except  they  press  upon 
the  sole,  or  are  made  shamefully  bad,  will  lame  (the  horse,  but 
that  he  may  be  very  easily  lamed  by  an  ignorant  or  improper 
paring  out  of  the  foot. 

Where  the  owner  of  the  horse  has  sufficient  influence 
with  the  smith,  he  will  find  it  advisable  always  to  have  a 
few  sets  of  shoes  ready  made.  Much  time  will  be  saved,  in 
case  of  accident,  and  there  will  not  be,  as  is  too  often  the 
case,  the  cutting,  paring,  and  injuring  of  the  foot,  in  order  to 
make  it  fit  the  shoe.  More  injury  than  would  be  readily  be- 
lieved is  done  to  the  foot  by  contriving  to  get  on  it  too  small 
a  shoe. 

Clips 

are  often  necessary,  in  order  more  securely  to  fasten  the 
shoe.  They  are  little  portions  of  the  upper  edge  of  the  shoa 
hammered  out,  and  turned  up  on  the  crust,  and  fitted  in  a 
little  depression  made  in  the  crust.  They  prevent  the  shoe 
from  being  loosened  or  torn  offj  both  in  rapid  action  and 
heavy  draught,  and  are  therefore  used  on  all  heavy,  and  on 
many  light  horses.  They  are  sometimes  placed  on  the  side 
of  the  shoe,  and  at  the  beginning  of  the  quarters,  and  on  all 
horses  that  are  accustomed  to  paw  violently  with  their  feet. 
Necessity  alone,  however,  will  justiiy  their  use. 

The  Calkin 

is  a  prolongation  and  turning  down  of  the  shoe  at  the  heel, 


134  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

enabling  the  animal  to  dig  his  foot  more  firmly  into  the 
ground,  and  with  more  advantage  throw  his  weight  into  the 
collar;  but  it  is  an  abominable  and  most  injudicious  practice 
to  place  the  calkin  on  one  side  alone,  as  is  too  often  done: 
an  unequal  direction  and  distribution  of  the  weight  and 
bearing  of  the  foot  is  often  given,  which  is  necessarily  pro- 
ductive of  mischief.  Few  are  the  cases  which  will  justify 
the  use  of  calkins  on  the  fore  feet,  or  even  on  the  hind  feet, 
except  they  are  of  equal  heigth  on  each  foot;  and  few  things 
are  more  injurious  to  the  foot  of  the  horse  than  wearing  the 
same  shoe  more  than  three  weeks  or  a  month,  let  the  work 
be  heavy  or  light.  The  shoe  should  never  be  heavier  than 
the  work  absolutely  requires.  This  is  acknowledged  in  the 
shoe  of  the  hunter  and  the  racer,  and  will  tell  in  the  case  of 
every  horse  after  a  hard  day's  work.  The  calkin  is  required 
on  the  outside  of  the  hind  shoes  of  hunters,  to  prevent  them 
from  slipping  at  their  leaps;  but  the  inside  of  the  shoe  must 
be  made  of  a  compensating  thickness,  to  afford  an  even  bear- 
ing for  the  foot. 

The  Bar  Shoe 

is  indispensable  in  most  large  stables.  It  is  a  very  simple 
contrivance,  being  nothing  more  than  the  continuation  of  the 
common  shoe  over  the  heels.  The  bearing  of  the  shoe  may 
thus  be  taken  off  from  every  weak  and  tender  part  of  the 
foot,  and  be  either  thrown  on  some  other  point  which  is  bet- 
ter able  to  bear  the  pressure,  or  diffused  over  the  foot.  It 
is  useful  in  some  cases  of  bad  corns,  which  are  thus  protected 
from  injury;  in  sand-crack,  the  pressure  may  be  removed 
from  either  or  both  sides  of  the  fissure;  pumiced  feet  may 
be  raised  by  this  shoe  above  the  possibility  of  injury;  and  in 
thrush  and  in  canker  not  only  is  the  weight  thrown  off  the 
diseased  part,  but  any  kind  of  dressing  may  be  easily  retained 
on  the  sore.  It  is  a  shoe,  however,  that  cannot  be  safely  used 
for  any  considerable  time,  or,  at  least,  it  requires  occasional 
or  even  frequent  change,  on  account  of  its  becoming  grad- 
ually pressed  down  on  the  sore  part  beneath.  Bar-shoes  are 
not  safe  for  use  when  much  speed  is  required,  and  they  are 
dangerous  when  frost  is  on  the  ground. 

The  Tip 

is  a  very  different  kind  of  shoe.  It  reaches  but  half  round 
the  crust.  It  is  used  when  the  horse  is  at  rest;  and,  the 
quarters  of  this  shoe  being  unfettered,  the  contracted  foot  is 


STUD   BOOS.  185 

sometimes  enabled  to  regain  its  natural  open  state.  It  has 
been  tried  for  road-work,  but,  as  might  naturally  be  expected, 
it  utterly  failed  when  often  or  long  used. 

The  Leather  Shoe 

is  principally  useful  when  the  foot  has  been  injured  or 
inflamed.  It,  to  a  considerable  degree,  breaks  the  shock, 
which  would  otherwise  be  painfully  felt  when  the  foot  is  put 
on  the  ground.  It  consists  of  a  piece  of  leather  or  felt,  about 
an  inch  in  width,  which  is  placed  between  the  crust  and  the 
shoe;  and  this  very  materially  obviates  concussion.  It  must 
not,  however,  be  long  worn,  for  the  nails  cannot  always  be 
driven  securely;  there  will  be  too  much  play  upon  them,  and 
they  will  become  loosened;  also  the  holes  which  they  accu- 
rately filled  at  first  will  be  enlarged,  and  the  crust  will  be 
broken  away. 

The  sole  is  sometimes  entirely  covered  with  leather.  This 
furnishes  a  temporary  defence  for  the  foot,  but  there  is  much 
insecurity  of  fastening;  the  tow,  or  other  dressing  introduced 
between  the  sole  and  the  leather,  is  not  always  equably  dis- 
tributed, and  frequently  the  stopping  produces  a  scaly  spongy 
horn,  or  gravel,  and  dirt  will  gradually  accumulate  between 
the  leather  and  the  horn,  and  the  foot  will  be  considerably 
injured.  Gutta  percha  is  substituted  with  good  effect 

One  other  shoe  must  be  mentioned — 

The  Horse  Sandal. 

It  consists  of  a  simple  apparatus  sufficiently  light  even  to  be 
carried  in  the  pocket,  but  is  more  frequently  attached  to  the 
saddle,  and  which,  on  the  loss  of  a  shoe,  can  be  applied  to 
the  foot  in  the  space  of  a  minute,  and  so  securely  attached 
to  it  that  the  sportsman  may  continue  the  chase  to  the  end 
of  the  longest  run.  The  same  sandal  has  been  repeatedly 
worn  more  than  one  hundred  miles;  it  may  be  procured 
from  any  respectable  harness-maker. 

Roaring. 

The  quality  of  soundness  involves  several  questions  of  no 
mean  importance,  especially  with  regard  to  those  maladies 
which  are  capable  of  being  transmitted.  It  is  very  apparent 
to  those  whose  practice  among  horses  is  extensive,  and  who 
are  best  able  to  form  accurate  opinions,  that  spavins  and 


136  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

curbs  are  less  frequent  than  they  were  five-and-twenty  years 
ago.  This  may  fairly  be  attributed  to  the  fact,  that  con- 
siderable circumspection  has  been  exercised  in  avoiding  such 
animals  for  breeding  purposes  as,  possessing  peculiar  con- 
formations in  their  hocks,  would  render  their  offspring 
predisposed  to  those  defects.  Blindness  is  certainly  less 

Cvalent  than  formerly.     Superior  management  in  the  stable 
evidently  assisted  in  averting  this  evil,  insufficiently  ven- 
tilated, dark  stables,  with  an  accumulation  of  dung  to  generate 
ammonia,  are  fortunately  out  of  fashion. 

There  is  an  impression  that  roaring  is  more  frequent ; 
and  among  race-horses  it  is  not  without  foundation.  As  an 
hereditary  complaint  it  may  certainly  be  traced  to  several 
sources — to  horses  whose  progeny  have,  in  many  instances, 
given  unequivocal  testimony  of  the  infirmity.  When  the  fact 
is  seriously  considered,  it  is  surprising  that  gentlemen  of 
known  talent,  owners  of  valuable  studs,  liberal  in  every 
item  of  expense  calculated  to  promote  the  success  of  their 
young  racing  stock,  should  ever  breed  from  sires  or  dams 
known  to  entail  this  malady  on  their  progeny.  A  veterinary 
surgeon  of  great  ability  and  observation  has  stated  that  every 
staUion,  when  consigned  to  the  stud,  becomes  a  roarer.  It  is 
a  startling  assertion,  and  induced  me  to  investigate  the  fact 
very  minutely.  The  result  does  not  corroborate  the  state- 
ment to  the  full  extent  of  the  declaration,  although  I  dis- 
covered sufficient  to  lead  me  to  the  conviction  that  it  is  a 
very  prevalent  affliction.  I  must  here,  however,  introduce 
a  reserving  clause,  arising  from  the  difficulty  which  exists  of 
positively  deciding  upon  every  case,  which  I  shall  enter  upon 
more  minutely  as  I  proceed.  In  contradiction  to  the  asser- 
tion of  the  professional,  I  must  observe  that  at  various  times 
I  had  two  hunters,  which  were  used  for  stud  purposes  dur- 
ing the  summer;  one  of  them  continued  in  my  possession 
three  seasons,  the  other  two;  most  assuredly  they  were  not 
either  of  them  roarers.  This  might  have  been,  and  very 
probably  was,  prevented  by  the  work  they  performed  during 
the  hunting  season,  for  it  is  quite  certain  that  very  many 
stallions,  especially  those  which  belong  to  private  breeding 
establishments,  and  are  kept  principally  for  the  use  of  these  es- 
tablishments, do  not  enjoy  that  exercise  which  is  absolutely 
necessary  for  the  maintenance  of  their  health.  The  country 
stallion,  which  travels  from  fair  to  fair,  and  from  market  to 
market,  is  infinitely  more  favorably  treated  in  this  respect, 
than  his  more  highly-distinguished  brother  who  presides  over 
a  private  and  choice  seraglio. 


STUD  BOOK.  137 

Roaring  may  be  divided  into  two  classes;  that  which 
must  be  pronounced,  in  opposition  to  all  theory,  as  decidedly 
hereditary;  and  that  which  is  produced  in  individuals  in 
consequence  of  catarrhal  disorders,  strangles,  influenza,  or 
any  other  temporary  cause  which  establishes  inflammation, 
and  a  consequent  thickening  in  the  mucous  membrane  lining 
the  trachea,  or  parts  adjacent,  which  are  the  seats  of  the  dis- 
order. Some  persons  are  skeptical  respecting  the  hereditary 
transmission  of  roaring,  for  which  little  surprise  can  be  en- 
tertained, when  the  difficulties  which  enshroud  numerous 
equivocal  indications  are  enumerated.  To  unravel  the  mys- 
tery, the  primary  cause  must  be  ascertained;  for  it  would 
be  exceeding  the  limits  of  truth  and  experience  to  say  that 
because  a  horse  is  a  roarer  himself,  he  will  transmit  it  to 
his  stock.  Certain  conformations,  or  rather  malformations, 
of  the  limbs — such  as  the  legs,  the  hocks,  and  the  feet — aro 
often  transmitted  from  the  parent  to  the  offspring;  from 
which  splints,  curbs,  spavins,  navicular  diseases,  and  other 
infirmities,  have  their  origin;  and  these  are  admitted  in  the 
category  of  hereditary  complaints:  yet  it  cannot  be  accepted 
as  a  rule  without  exception,  that  all  the  produce  of  mal- 
formed animals  shall  inherit  the  imperfections  of  their  parents. 
Upon  the  principle  of  malformation  in  the  parts  immediately 
or  indirectly  connected  with  the  organs  of  respiration,  roaring 
must  undoubtedly  come  within  the  definition  of  an  hereditary 
cause.  But  when  a  thickening  takes  place  of  the  mucous  mem- 
brane lining  the  parts  which  are  the  seat  of  the  disorder,  or 
ossification  of  the  cartilages  of  the  windpipe,  in  consequence 
of  inflammation,  resulting  from  bronchitis,  influenza,  colds, 
or  such-like  accidental  occurrences,  providing  no  malformation 
of  the  parts  previously  existed,  roaring  cannot  with  pro- 
priety be  denominated  hereditary.  The  difficulty  in  such 
cases  is  to  determine  whether  that  malformation  of  parts 
does  exist.  To  assign  to  such  accidental  causes  as  the  latter 
the  aspersion  of  hereditary  transmission,  is  not  consonant 
with  reason. 

There  are  as  many  degrees  or  intonations  of  roaring  as 
there  are  notes  on  the  gamut;  and  those  notes  ascend  from 
piano  to  forte.  This  renders  it  difficult  in  some  slight  cases 
to  decide  positively  whether  a  horse  is  a  roarer  or  not;  and 
good  judges  may  be  mistaken.  The  state  of  the  animal 
very  frequently  occasions  an  impediment  to  an  accurate 
decision:  if  he  be  in  very  plethoric  condition,  he  will  not 
unfrequently  give  slight  indications  of  roaring;  but  when  he 
is  divested  of  that  superabundance  of  fat,  all  the  disagreeable 


188  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

symptoms  disappear.  The  usual  test  of  startling  the  animal 
is  by  no  means  an  infallible  criterion,  neither  is  the  stetho- 
scope in  all  cases  to  be  relied  upon.  There  is  but  one  positive 
mode  of  determining  the  question:  the  animal  being  in  a 
proper  'condition,  he  must  be  ridden  and  tried  in  all  his 
paces.  With  stallions  this  proof  is  not  often  practiable;  and 
unless  they  are  badly  affected,  it  is  often  impossible  to  prove 
that  they  are  roarers.  There  is  no  point  upon  which  the 
owner  of  such  a  horse  is  so  much  tenacious  as  that  of  an  accusa- 
tion that  his  favorite  is  a  roarer.  Tell  the  proprietor  that 
his  horse's  legs  are  bad,  insinuate  that  he  broke  down  in 
consequence,  he  will  receive  your  remark  with  complacency: 
tell  him  that  his  horse's  hocks  are  bad,  and  point  out  to  him 
an  incipient  spavin,  or  an  unequivocal  curb,  he  will  receive 
your  objection  with  indifference;  point  out  to  him  a  multi- 
tude of  unsymmetrical  proportions,  he  will  listen  to  you  with 
calmness;  but  only  intimate  to  him  that  you  think  his  horse 
is  a  roarer,  and  he  will  roar  in  your  ear  a  challenge  of  defi- 
ance in  proof  of  your  allusion. 

Large  horses  certainly  have  a  greater  tendency  to  become 
roarers  than  smaller  ones,  and  irritable-tempered  ones  more 
frequently  than  those  of  a  phlegmatic  disposition.  Several 
of  the  largest  stallions  might  be  enumerated  as  being  pre- 
disposed to  entail  this  malady  on  their  issue.  These  are  cer- 
tainly valid  reasons  for  not  giving  a  preference  to  horses  of 
large  size,  although  public  opinion  predominates  in  their 
favor.  Stallions  are  more  subject  to  the  complaint  than  geld- 
ings, and  geldings  more  so  than  mares.  Compactly- formed 
horses  of  moderate  size  seldom  indulge  their  owners  with 
music.  It  is  very  difficult  to  assign  any  reason  for  this;  but 
it  appears  that  there  is  a  greater  constitutional  disposition 
in  stallions  to  inflammation  about  the  respiritory  organs 
than  there  is  in  mares  or  geldings,  and  that  inflammation,  re- 
sulting in  deposits  of  lymph  and  ossification  of  the  cartilages, 
produces  the  disorder.  This  phenomenon  may  be  explained 
in  consequence  of  the  sympathy  which  is  well  known  to  exist 
between  various  parts  of  the  body. 

A  change  in  the  atmosphere  is  a  very  frequent  cause  of 
inflammation  in  the  respiratory  organs,  and  severe  frosts  are 
very  likely  to  produce  it.  In  order  to  preserve  the  blooming 
condition  of  our  horses'  coats,  it  is  a  common  practice  with 
grooms  to  keep  the  stables  as  warm  as  possible  when  a  frost 
sets  in;  but  it  is  a  most  dangerous  observance.  Of  the  im- 
portance of  keeping  horses  warm  in  their  bodies,  there  can- 
not be  a  question;  but  that  is  better  regulated  by  extra 


STUD   BOOK.  139 

clothing.  If  the  atmosphere  of  the  stable  be  raised  to  a 
temperature  greatly  exceeding  that  of  the  open  air,  the 
horses,  when  taken  out  to  exercise  or  work,  are  liable  to 
serious  consequences,  from  the  great  increase  in  the  amount 
of  oxygen  which  rushes  through  the  respiratory  organs  in 
the  act  of  inspiration.  The  quantity  of  oxygen  is  regulated 
by  the  temperature  of  the  atmosphere;  and  there  are  few  per- 
sons who  have  not  experienced  the  inconvenience  attendant 
upon  passing  from  an  over-heated  ball-room  into  the  open 
air;  and  they  generally  take  the  precaution  of  adopting 
additional  clothing.  The  case  of  the  horse  is  precisely 
analogous. 

Although  a  very  Liberal  premium  has  been  offered,  the 
cure  for  roaring  has  not  yet  been  discovered.  "When  it  pro- 
ceeds from  malformation,  it  is  impossible :  or  if  the  cartilages 
of  the  windpipe  became  ossified,  no  remedy  can  be  found  to 
reach  those  parts.  An  extensive  deposit  of  lymph  having 
taken  place  in  the  mucous  membranes  with  which  the  re- 
spiratory organs  are  defended,  comes  within  the  same  cate- 
gory. A  strong  stimulus  applied  to  the  sinews,  joints,  or 
muscles,  in  the  event  of  lameness,  may,  and  frequently  does, 
impart  a  wonderful  effect;  but  it  is  a  different  affair  when  in- 
ternal organs,  such  as  those  of  respiration,  are  disordered; 
those  parts  cannot  be  brought  into  immediate  contact  with 
any  application.  When  a  horse  is  affected  with  inflamma- 
tion about  those  parts  which  are  the  seat  of  the  disorder,  if 
it  be  vigorously  attacked  in  its  incipient  state  with  the  usual 
stimulating  preparations,  providing  there  is  no  malformation 
to  contend  against,  the  malady  may  in  very  many  cases  be 
prevented;  and  a  vast  number  of  cases  of  confirmed  roaring 
are  to  be  attributed  to  neglect  or  delay  at  the  important  crisis 
of  commencement.  Those  who  would  avoid  breeding  roarers 
must  avoid  breeding  from  parents  whose  progeny  has  evinced 
a  predisposition  to  the  complaint.  So  far  every  breeder  has 
the  remedy  in  his  own  hand;  but  with  the  utmost  caution, 
all  living  creatures  are  subject  to  disorders;  and  if  the  results 
are  unfortunate,  in  defiance  of  the  most  skillful  treatment, 
breeders  must  console  themselves  with  the  reflection  that 
their  disappointments  are  the  decrees  of  fate. 

NOTE. 

A  judicious  selection  of  the  most  eligible  parents  for  the 
purpose  of  breeding,  combined  with  careful  attention  to  the 
method  of  rearing  and  treatment  of  the  offspring,  will  not 


140  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

fail  to  afford  ample  remuneration  to  those  who  embark  in  the 
speculation;  and  the  country  will  abound  with  animals  of  the 
most  useful  classes,  possessing  sound  and  enduring  constitu- 
tions. In  order  to  render  the  arguments  contained  in  this 
little  volume  impressive,  if  has  been  recessiry  to  trace  the 
progress  of  racing  and  breeding  horses,  and  to  show  that  the 
higher  classes  of  horses  have  been  gradually  improving. 


STUD   BOOK. 


THE  TROTTING  HORSE. 


IN  the  preceding  pages  we  have  treated  at  length,  and 
with  careful  consideration,  the  subject  of  Horses  in  general. 

Now  we  propose  to  devote  some  pages  to  a  description  of 
the  Trotting  Horse,  and  especially  the  American  Trotter. 

It  is  now  admitted  by  even  the  most  prejudiced  of  Eng- 
lish writers  on  the  subject,  that  the  Trotting  Horse,  as  he  ap- 
pears now  in  our  country,  far  surpasses  in  all  essential  qual- 
ities, similar  animals  in  any  other  country  in  the  world. 

For  various  reasons  not  necessary  here  to  dilate  upon, 
horseback  riding  has  never  been  anything  like  an  universal 
passion  with  North  Americans.  True,  in  some  States,  owing 
to  the  irregular  formation  of  the  face  of  the  country,  and  a 
scarcity  of  good  roads,  it  became  a  necessity  to  use  saddle 
horses.  The  wealthier  classes  in  Virginia,  and  some  of  the 
Southwestern  States,  also,  to  a  certain  extent,  kept  up  the 
hunting  customs  of  their  ancestors  in  the  mother  country. 

Still,  a  general  preference  has  always  been  given  to  driv- 
ing in  place  of  riding,  wherever  the  country  was  compara- 
tively level,  and  the  roads  tolerably  smooth. 

Another  reason  for  the  popularity  of  driving  in  lieu  of 
riding  lay  hi  the  fact  that  the  majority  of  persons  able  to  keep 
a  horse  for  both  use  and  pleasure  were  not  bom  "  with  a  sil- 
ver spoon  in  their  mouth,"  and  have  had  little  opportunity  to 
learn  the  art  of  equitation  in  their  youthful  days.  Such  per- 
sons, as  they  became  possessed  of  the  means  to  indulge  in 
harmless  and  healthful  recreations,  found  exactly  the  agree- 
able style  of  locomotion  that  suited  them,  seated  in  a  pretty 
light  wagon,  behind  a  trotter  or  pacer  going  at  a  speed  but 
little  less  than  that  of  a  running  horse. 

Just  about  the  time  that  the  fast  and  enduring  trotter  was 
needed,  many  circumstances  combined  to  produce  the  do- 
sired  animal 

This  breed  of  horses — the  American  trotter — is  now  al- 


142  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

most  as  clearly  defined  and  as  distinct  as  the  Arabian,  or 
the  thoroughbred  racer, 

Thanks  to  the  fact  that  we  possess  in  this  country  a  class 
of  farmers  of  wonderful  intelligence,  enterprise  and  public 
spirit;  men  who  have  sense  enough  to  seize  upon  a  good  idea 
when  they  see  it,  and  enterprise  sufficient  to  put  money  and 
time  in  any  project  offering  reasonable  hopes  of  being  remun- 
erative— if  not  to  themselves  directly,  at  least  to  their  fellow 
citizens. 

"While  in  thoroughbreds,  such  men  as  Sandford,  Ten 
Broeck,  and  Lorillard,  have  borne  the  colors  of  America  "full 
high  advanced,"  and  made  it  patent  to  the  whole  world  that 
the  United  States  breeders  can  bear  away  cups  and  purses 
from  the  swiftest  "  flyers"  of  Great  Britain,  even  on  their 
"  native  heath,"  our  trotting-stock  raisers  have  produced  so 
perfect  a  breed  of  horses  that  it  is  only  prevented  from  beat- 
ing the  same  style  of  horses  in  Britain,  from  the  fact  that 
outside  of  America  there  are  no  competitors  worth  contesting 
with. 

Again,  of  late  years  there  have  been  quite  a  number  of 
persons,  possessed  of  princely  incomes,  who  have  had  a  pas- 
sionate liking  for  speedy  trotters,  and  who  have  paid  such 
large  sums  for  choice  horses  that  it  has  proved  a  powerful 
incentive  to  the  breeding  and  training  of  better  and  better 
still. 

But  although  our  trotters  far  excel  those  of  every  other 
country,  it  must  not  be  supposed  that  we  have  a  monopoly  of 
trotters.  Russia  has  some  very  fine  animals  of  this  class. 
While  in  Great  Britain,  trotting  matches  took  place  quite 
often  just  before  the  beginning  of  the  present  century.  A 
mare,  unnamed,  had  trotted  in  1791  sixteen  miles  in  58m. 
This,  in  common  with  most  British  matches,  was  for  long 
distances.  Many  long-distance  goers  came  of  a  stock  known 
as  Norfolk  trotters — but  they  never  reached  anything  like  the 
speed  of  our  modern  trotters.  The  first  public  race  for  a 
stake  in  this  country  was  in  1818,  for  $1000.  On  this  occa- 
sion Boston  Blue  trotted  a  mile  in  three  minutes.  This  was 
thought  so  wonderful  that  he  was  taken  to  England  where 
he  won  over  $500  in  one  race,  doing  twenty-eight  miles  in 
one  hour  twenty-eight  minutes  and  fifty  seconds.  He  was  a 
winner  against  time  in  several  matches.  About  three  min- 
utes was  his  average  time.  His  pedigree  was  unknown.  His 
color  was  gray,  and  he  was  sixteen  hands  high. 

Messenger's  colts  began  to  excite  attention  in  1821.  They 
showed  power  and  swiftness, 


STUD   BOOK.  1-43 

The  first  public  trotting  course  on  Long  Island  was 
opened  in  1825. 

Some  three  years  after,  the  Hunting  Park  Association  was 
organized  in  Philadelphia. 

For  many  years  after  this,  two  minutes  forty  seconds 
was  thought  to  be  "  rushing  time." 

Messenger  has  had  such  a  permanent  effect  upon  our 
trotting  stock,  that  more  or  less  of  his  blood  is  to  be  found 
in  the  veins  of  all  our  most  famous  trotters.  We  here  give  a 
brief  history  of  that  noble  stallion,  and  other  famous  horses, 
taken  from  that  excellent  work,  "  Every  Horse  Owner's  Cy- 
clopedia." published  by  Porter  &  Coates,  Philadelphia. 

Messenger  was  an  English  thorougbred,  foaled  in  1780, 
and  imported,  as  were  many  other  English  thoroughbreds,  on 
account  of  his  value  as  a  running  horse,  and  for  the  improve- 
ment of  thoroughbreds  in  this  country.  He  had  run  success- 
fully in  several  races,  and,  at  five  years  old,  won  the  King's 
Plate.  It  was  three  years  after  this  performance,  1788,  that 
he  was  imported  into  New  York  by  Mr.  Benger.  The  first 
two  seasons  after  his  arrival  he  was  kept  at  Neshaminy  Bridge, 
near  Bristol,  in  Bucks  County,  Pa.  Mr.  Henry  Astor  then 
purchased  him,  and  kept  him  on  Long  Island  for  two  years. 
About  this  time  Mr.  C.  W.  Van  Ranst  purchased  an  interest 
in  him,  and  for  the  remainder  of  his  life  he  was  kept  in 
various  parts  of  the  State  of  New  York,  with  the  exception  of 
one  year  at  Cooper's  Point,  in  New  Jersey,  opposite  Philadel- 
phia. He  died  January  28,  1808. 

Messenger  was  a  gray,  15  hands  3  inches  high,  and  stoutly 
built.  His  form  was  not  strictly  in  conformity  with  the 
popular  notions  of  perfection,  being  upright  in  the  shoulders 
and  low  on  the  withers,  with  a  short,  straight  neck  and  a 
large,  bony  head.  His  loins  and  hind-quarters  were  power- 
fully muscular,  his  windpipe  and  nostrils  of  unusual  size,  his 
hocks  and  knees  very  large,  and  below  them  limbs  of  medium 
size,  but  flat  and  clean;  and,  whether  at  rest  or  in  motion,  his 
position  and  carriage  always  perfect  and  striking.  It  is  said 
that  during  the  voyage  to  this  country  the  three  other  horses 
that  accompanied  him  became  so  reduced  in  flesh  and  strength 
that  when  the  vessel  landed  at  New  York  they  had 
to  be  helped  and  supported  down  the  gang-plank;  but  when 
it  came  to  Messenger's  turn  to  land,  he,  with  a  loud  neigh, 
charged  down  the  gang-plank,  with  a  colored  groom  on  each 
side  holding  him  back,  and  dashed  off  up  the  street  at  a  stiff 
trot,  carrying  the  grooms  along  in  spite  of  their  efforts  to  stop 
him. 


1M  THE   CHANGE   COUNTY 

Though  his  name  has  been  made  illustrious  chiefly  by  the 
performances  of  his  trotting  descendants,  he  was  also  the 
sire  of  some  of  the  best  running  horses  of  his  day.  The  most 
famous  on  the  turf  of  his  immediate  thoroughbred  descend- 
dants  were  Potomac,  Fair  Kachel,  Miller's  Damsel  (dam  of 
American  Eclipse),  Bright  Phoebus,  Hambletonian,  Sir  Solo- 
mon, and  Sir  Harry.  The  celebrated  four-mile  racer,  Ariel, 
had  Messenger  in  her  pedigree  four  times  in  five  genera- 
tions. 

In  his  day  trotting  was  not  much  in  fashion,  as  we  have 
shown,  and  nothing  is  known  of  the  trotting  speed  of  this 
great  fountain-head  of  trotters,  nor  were  any  of  his  sons  or 
daughters  ever  trained  to  that  gait  It  was  the  second  gener- 
ation of  his  descendants,  the  grand-colts  of  Messenger,  and 
mostly  those  produced  by  a  cross  with  the  common  stock  of 
the  country,  that  attracted  attention  by  their  trotting  speed. 
This  fact  is  easily  explained.  The  thoroughbreds  of  his  get 
were  trained  to  running,  and  were  not  used  as  road  horses, 
or  some  of  them  would  probably  have  surpassed  any  of  his 
half-bred  descendants  in  trotting.  But  even  his  own  half- 
bred  colts  made  no  mark  as  trotters,  though  some  of  them 
became  celebrated  as  the  sires  of  trotters.  This  is  somewhat 
remarkable;  but  we  should  bear  in  mind  that  public  atten- 
tion had  not  then  been  given  to  that  gait,  good  roads  and 
light  vehicles  were  not  so  common,  and  the  next  generation 
being  more  numerous,  the  probabilities  were  greater  that 
this  remarkable  quality  of  the  family  should  not  remain  un- 
discovered. 

The  sons  of  Messenger  to  which  nearly  all  the  fast  trotters 
of  the  present  day  trace  their  pedigree  were  Plato,  Engineer, 
Commander,  Why-Not,  Mount  Holly,  Mambrino,  and  Hamble- 
tonian. 

Mambrino,  named  after  the  sire  of  Messenger,  was 
thoroughbred,  a  bright  bay,  16  hands  high,  long  bodied,  and, 
like  his  sire,  upright  in  the  shoulders.  He  was  not  only  a 
large  but  also  a  coarse  horse,  badly  string-halted.  He  had  a 
free,  rapid,  swinging  walk,  a  slashing  trot,  and  running  speed 
of  the  first  order.  He  was  the  sire  of  Betsy  Baker,  one  of 
the  first  eminent  American  trotters,  of  AbdaUah,  from  whom 
are  descended  many  of  the  fastest,  including  the  get  of  Bys- 
dyk's  Hambletonian,  who  was  sired  by  AbdaUah,  and  of 
Mambrino  Paymaster,  from  wliom  are  descended  Mambrino 
Chief  and  all  his  get,  including  Lady  Thorn,  Mambrino  Pilot, 
Bay  Chief,  &c. 

Next  in  celebrity  is  Hambletonian,    also  thoroughbred. 


STUD   BOOK. 

He  was  a  dark  bay,  15  hands  1  inch,  beautifully  molded,  and 
without  a  single  weak  point  He  was  the  sire  of  Topgallant, 
"Whalebone,  Sir  Peter,  Trouble,  and  Shakspeare;  all  ranked 
among  the  best  of  the  early  American  trotters. 

Abdallah  was  a  grandson  of  Messenger,  and  deserves 
especial  mention  in  this  connection  because  so  many  trotters 
of  celebrity  are  descended  through  him.  He  was  foaled  in 
1826,  the  property  of  Mr.  John  Treadwell,  of  Jamaica,  L.  L 
His  sire  was  Mambrino,  and  his  dam  a  daughter  of  Messen- 
ger, called  Amazonia.  Thus  Abdallah  was  closely  inbred. 
He  was  a  bay,  and  inherited  much  of  the  plainness  of  his  sire; 
but  also  inherited  the  trotting  quality  of  Messenger  in  great 
degree.  He  was  trained  at  four  years  old,  and  was  con- 
sidered the  fastest  young  horse  of  his  day.  In  the  spring  of 
1840  he  was  sold  to  Mr.  John  W.  Hunt,  of  Lexington,  Ky. ; 
but,  on  account  of  the  great  value  of  his  stock,  he  was  bought 
back  the  next  year,  at  a  high  price,  and  died  in  1852.  Beside 
being  a  progenitor,  through  his  son,  Rysdyk's  Hambletonian, 
of  that  numerous  and  highly-distinguished  family  of  trotters 
of  which  Dexter,  George  Wilkes,.and  Mountain  Boy  are  the 
most  eminent  representatives,  he  is  equally  remarkable  for 
the  number  of  mares  of  his  get  from  whom  very  fast  trotters 
have  been  bred.  To  say  that  a  horse  is  "  out  of  an  Abdallah 
mare,"  is  pedigree  enough  on  that  side  with  most  horsemen. 

Of  the  other  sons  of  Messenger  it  iz  not  necessary  to  speak 
at  length,  though  we  find  many  horses  of  the  present  day 
descended  from  them,  and  inheriting  the  Messenger  charac- 
teristics. lWhen  the  pedigree  of  any  fast  trotter  can  be 
traced  far  "enough,  it  rarely  happens  that  Messenger  is  not 
found  in  it.  Many  horses  that  show  good  trotting  speed, 
and  are  considered  by  their  breeders  and  owners  to  be  noth- 
ing but  common  stock,  are  found  to  be  descended  from 
Messenger,  when  intelligent  investigation  reveals  their  pedi- 
grees. 

Another  imported  horse  that  added  something  to  the 
trotting  quality  of  our  stock  was  Bellf ounder,  a  stallion  foaled 
about  1817,  and  brought  from  England  to  Boston  in  1823,  by 
Mr.  James  Boot  Many  distinguished  trotters  are  in  part 
descended  from  some  of  the  many  thoroughbreds  that  have 
been  imported  from  England  at  various  tunes,  and,  indeed, 
our  most  celebrated  horses  have  a  strong  infusion  of  that 
blood,  derived  from  other  sources  than  Messenger.  Conced- 
ing the  value  of  good  thoroughbred  crosses  in  giving  spirit 
and  endurance  to  trotting  horses,  and  admitting  that  Diomed, 
Whip,  Trustee,  Glencoe,  Margrave,  and  other  imported 


146  THE   OEANGE   COUNTY 

thoroughbreds  have  eminent  trotters  among  their  descend- 
ants, it  may  be  safe  to  say  that  all  of  them  together  would 
not  have  produced  a  family  of  trotters  without  a  cross  from 
Messenger;  and  equally  safe  to  assert  that  the  fame  of  Messen- 
ger would  have  been  no  less  if  any  one  of  the  others  had 
never  been  foaled.  The  imported  Arabian,  Grand  Bashaw, 
had  the  luck  to  have  his  name  perpetuated  in  a  family  of  good 
trotters  that  originated  in  Buck's  County,  Pa.,  but  the  trot- 
ting quality  all  came  from  Messenger,  who  stood  in  that 
county  two  years.  The  first  of  the  Bashaws  that  manifested 
any  trotting  quality  was  Young  Bashaw,  a  son  of  the  Arabian; 
and  he  was  the  only  one  of  the  whole  get  that  was  thus  en- 
dowed. The  explanation  is  found  in  the  fact  that  Young 
Bashaw's  dam  was  a  granddaughter  of  Messenger. 

Of  American  horses  not  descended  from  Messenger  that 
have  contributed  to  establish  the  reputation  of  our  trotters,  the 
number  is  not  large  nor  the  influence  very  considerable. 
Sir  Henry,  the  famous  competitor  of  American  Eclipse,  and 
Duroc,  both  thoroughbreds,  and  both  descended  from  im- 
ported Diomed,  seem  to  have  transmitted  some  trotting 
quality  to  their  descendants,  but  it  is  very  doubtful  that 
either,  or  both,  would  have  established  a  family  of  trotters. 
Seeley's  American  Star,  quite  famous  as  the  sire  of  modern 
trotters,  combines  the  blood  of  both,  being  sired  by  Ameri- 
can Star,  a  son  of  Duroc,  and  out  of  Sally  Slouch  by  Sir 
Henry,  but  his  grand-dam  was  by  Messenger.  American 
Eclipse,  the  progenitor  of  many  good  trotters,  had  also  the 
blood  of  Duroc,  his  sire;  but  as  his  dam, Miller's  Damsel,  was 
by  Messenger,  the  Duroc  part  of  the  pedigree  is  seldom 
thought  of.  Americus,  who  beat  Lady  Suffolk  on  the  Hunting 
Park  Course  in  a  five-mile  match  to  wagons  in  the  remark- 
able time  of  13m.  54s.  and  13m.  58  l-2s.,  was  by  Bed  Jacket, 
a  son  of  Duroc,  and  not  known  to  have  inherited  his  trotting 
from  any  other  source. 

Canada  has  added  something  to  our  trotting  stock. 
In  trotting  they  are  usually  short,  quick  steppers  with 
very  high  knee  action,  and  are  spirited,  trappy  harness 
horses,  and  long-lived.  These  horses  are  often  said  to  be  de- 
generated from  their  Norman  ancestry  through  the  coldness 
of  the  climate,  the  long  winters  and  scanty  fare.  There  have 
been  numerous  importations  from  France  to  this  country  of 
the  choicest  specimens  of  Norman  horses,  and  an  impartial 
comparison  shows  that  the  Canadian  has  gained  in  spirit  and 
speed  more  than  enough  to  compensate  for  all  he  has  lost 
in  size, 


STUD  BOOK.  147 

The  best  of  the*Canadians  that  ever  came  to  the  States 
was,  probably,  Pilot,  a  black  pacing  and  trotting  horse  whose 
descendants  inherited  trotting  speed.  He  was  often  distin- 
guished as  Old  Pacer  Pilot.  Wallace's  American  Stud  Book 
says  of  him:  "Foaled  about  1826.  Nothing  is 'known  of 
his  pedigree.  He  was  called  a  Canadian  horse,  and  both 
trotted  and  paced;  at  the  latter  gait,  it  is  said,  he  went  in 
2m.  26s.  with  165  pounds  on  his  back.  He  was  bought 
about  1832  by  Major  O.  Dubois,  from  a  Yankee  peddler  in 
New  Orleans  for  $1000.  He  was  afterwards  sold  to  D.  Hein- 
sohn,  of  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  was  kept  in  that  vicinity  until  he 
died  about  1855.  His  stock  were  very  stout  and  fast."  As 
nothing  is  known  of  his  pedigree,  and  as  he  was  in  all  ap- 
pearance a  genuine  Cannuck,  it  is  likely  that  he  did  not  owe 
anything  to  Messenger.  One  of  his  get,  Alexander's  Pilot, 
Jr.,  out  of  Nancy  Pope  by  Havoc,  was  the  sire  of  many  fast 
trotters,  the  fastest  of  which  was  John  Morgan,  out  of  a  mare 
by  Medoc  and  he  by  American  Eclipse.  The  dam  of  Mam- 
biino  Pilot  was  also  by  Pilot,  Jr.,  and,  like  John  Morgan, 
was  of  Messenger  descent  on  the  dam's  side.  Though  the 
best  of  the  descendants  of  Old  Pilot  are  part  Messenger, 
there  is  none  of  that  blood  in  Pilot,  Jr.,  and  it  must  be  con- 
fessed that  Old  Pilot  sired  some  very  good  horses  that  took 
the  trotting  all  from  himself. 

Another  horse  of  Canadian  origin,  though  not  a  Cannuck, 
deserves  notice  in  this  connection.  Royal  George,  called 
"Warrior  before  he  came  to  the  States,  the  sire  of  the  fast 
stallion  Toronto  Chief,  and  several  other  good  trotters, 
was  a  native  of  Canada  and  probably  out  of  a  Cannuck  mare, 
but  his  sire  was  Black  Warrior,  and  he  by  an  imported  Eng- 
lish horse. 

Some  very  good  colts  have  been  bread  out  of  Cannucks 
by  good  trotting  stallions.  Thus  the  celebrated  sons  of  Rys- 
dyk's  Hambletonian,  Bruno  and  the  Brother  of  Bruno,  and 
their  full  sister  Brunette,  are  out  of  a  Canadian  mare.  At 
three  years  old  Bruno  made  the  astonishing  time  of  2m.  39s. 
in  harness.  At  four  years  old,  2m.  30s.  and  2m.  34s.  At  six 
years  old  he  trotted  to  the  pole  with  Brunette,  seven  years 
old,  on  the  Fashion  course  in  2m.  35  1-4. 

Gift,  a  chestnut  gelding  by  Mambrino  Pilot,  was  out  of  a 
small  pacing  Cannuck.  At  four  years  old  he  received  five  for- 
feits and  challenged  through  the  Spirit  of  the  Times  any  colt  of 
the  same  age  to  trot  in  harness  or  to  wagon  for  $1000,  with- 
out being  accepted.  Though  these  colts  are  out  of  Canadian 
mares,  it  must  be  considered  that  the  mares  themselves  were 


148  THE  OKA^GE   COUNTY 

not  very  fast,  and  that  Rysdyk's  Hambletonian  and  Mam- 
brino  Pilot  are  the  best  two  trotting  foal-getters  in  the 
world.  The  bay  stallions  St.  Lawrence,  the  sire  of  several 
fast  trotters,  was  a  Canadian,  and  one  of  the  best  of  his 
breed.  He  died  at  Kalamazoo  in  1858.  There  is  one  other 
horse  deserving  especial  notice  as  a  progenitor  of  trotters, 
in  whose  veins  no  blood  of  Messenger  can  be  found,  though 
his  pedigree  is  too  obscure  to  warrant  the  assertion  that 
none  existed  there.  Black  Hawk,  often  called  Vermont  Black 
Hawk  to  distinguish  him  from  the  equally  celebrated  Long 
Island  Black  Hawk,  and  also  called  Hill's  Black  Hawk,  was 
of  Morgan  stock  on  his  sire's  side;  being  a  son  of  Sherman, 
one  of  the  best  sons  of  Justin  Morgan,  the  founder  of  the 
Morgan  family.  The  dam  of  Black  Hawk  was  raised  in  New 
Brunswick,  and  nothing  is  known  of  her  pedigree.  Black 
Hawk  was  foaled  in  1833  at  Greenland,  N.  H.  At  four  years 
old  he  was  sold  to  Lowell,  Mass.,  where  he  was  used  as  a  car- 
riage horse  for  seven  years.  He  then  became  the  property  of 
David  Hill,  of  Bridport,  Vt.,  where  he  acquired  great  fame; 
begetting  more  high-priced  colts  than  any  other  horse  of  his 
day.  He  had  remarkable  power  in  propagating  his  own 
characteristics,  and  his  stock  were  uniformly  stylish,  spirited 
harness-horses,  many  of  them  fast,  and  some  of  them  among 
the  fastest.  Another  history  of  his  pedigree  makes  him  the 
son  of  a  Canadian  named  Paddy;  and  still  another  declares 
him  a  veritable  native  of  Canada;  though  not  a  pure  Cannuck. 

Black  Hawk's  colts  were  never  gray,  as  many  of  them 
would  have  been  if  his  dam  was  that  color,  but  many  of  them 
were  chestnuts  with  white  feet  and  faces,  which  was  the  color 
of  Sherman  and  of  Sherman's  dam.  This  fact  pretty  clearly 
shows  that  neither  the  "  Paddy"  story  nor  the  Canadian  ped- 
igree are  correct,  but  that  Black  Hawk  was  truly  a  Morgan. 
He  was  a  little  under  15  hands,  and  weighed  about  lOOOlbs. 
In  1842  he  won  $1000  by  trotting  five  miles  over  the  Cam- 
bridge Park  Course  in  16in.  In  1843  he  won  a  race  of  two- 
mile  heats  with  ease  in  5m.  43s.  and  5m.  48s.,  and  several  times 
trotted  single  miles  in  2m.  42s.  He  was  the  sire  of  Ethan  Allen, 
Black  Ralph,  Lancet,  Belle  of  Saratoga,  Black  Hawk  Maid, 
Flying  Cloud,  and  many  others  of  good  repute  for  speed. 
His  colts  were  in  great  demand,  particularly  in  the  West  and 
South,  where  hundreds  were  sold  at  very  high  prices.  As 
many  of  his  sons  were,  and  still  are,  kept  as  stallions,  his 
descendants  are  very  numerous;  and  he  undoubtedly  has 
done  much  to  improve  the  stock  of  American  horses. 

Pacing  is  not  considered  a  good  harness  gait,  but  some 


STUD   BOOK.  140 

of  our  fastest  road  and  sporting  horses  have  been  pacers, 
and  they  are  frequently  matched  with  trotters  in  races. 
Many  horses  both  trot  and  pace,  and  of  those  that  have  both 
gaits,  some  go  faster  in  one  and  some  in  the  other.  To  teach 
a  trotter  to  pace  is  somewhat  difficult  unless  the  horse  natur- 
ally inclines  to  it,  but  it  may  be  done  sometimes  by  riding 
with  a  severe  curb-bit  and  spurs.  Of  course  it  requires  good 
horsemanship,  as  well  as  means  and  appliances,  to  urge  the 
movement  desired,  and  to  restrain  the  animal  from  the 
steps  he  is  most  accustomed  to  take.  When  the  saddle  was 
more  in  use  than  now,  pacing  was  a  favorite  gait  with  many 
riders,  but  unless  the  horse  can  occasionally  change  his  way 
of  going  into  a  canter,  it  becomes  very  tiresome  on  a  long 
journey.  Though  the  rider  may  not  be  jolted  from  the 
saddle  so  much  as  by  a  trotter,  the  wabbling  twists  his  back 
first  one  way  and  then  the  other  most  fatiguingly. 

To  teach  a  pacer  to  trot,  various  expedients  are  resorted 
to.  Fence-rails  are  put  down  about  as  far  apart  as  a  trotter 
steps  in  a  jog.  The  pacer  is  ridden  over  them  and  finds  it 
difficult  to  lift  his  feet  over  them  in  that  gait,  and  adopts  the 
trot.  When  a  horse  has  become  very  tired  by  long  pacing 
he  wiK  sometimes  ease  his  weary  muscles  by  a  change  of 
action  into  a  trot;  and  this  he  is  more  likely  to  do  if  the 
roads  are  muddy.  From  such  a  beginning  a  skillful  driver 
may  make  the  trotting  permanent. 

Some  very  good  and  fast  trotters  were  first  pacers  and 
were  taught  the  better  way  of  going,  and  some  of  them  after 
they  had  acquired  speed  in  their  natural  gait. 

Pelharn  was  first  a  very  fast  pacer,  and  afterward  became 
a  distinguished  trotter.  In  1849  he  was  the  first  to  win  a 
heat  in  harness  in  2m.  28s.  Cayuga  Chief  was  a  pacer  in  a 
livery  stable,  in  Worcester,  Mass.,  and  a  favorite  ladies'  hack- 
ney. One  day  he  struck  a  trot,  and  soon  became  distin- 
guished. In  1844  he  trotted  to  a  wagon  with  2201bs.  in 
2m.  36  l-2s.  The  black  gelding  Pilot,  probably  a  son  of 
the  old  pacer  of  the  same  name,  was  first  a  fast  pacer.  He 
surprised  his  owner  by  striking  a  trot,  and  improved  so 
rapidly  that  in  a  short  time  he  trotted  in  2m.  28  l-2s.  Tip, 
and  Dart,  and  Sontag  were  all  pacers  that  afterward  trotted 
fast.  Old  Pacer  Pilot  went  fast  in  both  gaits,  and  so  did  his 
grandson,  Tom  Wonder,  the  sire  of  the  famous  twenty-mile 
trotter,  John  Stewart 

Though  there  are  objections  to  pacing  as  a  road  gait,  in 
harness,  some  of  the  fastest  have  been  pacers  ;  and  though 
it  is  generally  believed  that  a  pacer  soon  tires,  there  are  per- 


150  THE   CHANGE   COUNTY 

formances  on  record  that  prove  them  capable  of  keeping  in 
the  best  of  trotting  company  for  any  distance.  In  1843,  Sir 
Walter  Scott  paced  on  Beacon  Course  eighteen  miles  in  less 
than  an  hour  without  a  break  or  halt.  In  the  same  year,  Oneida 
Chief  paced  against  the  best  trotters  of  that  time — Lady 
Suffolk,  Confidence  and  Dutchman — and  won  more  races 
than  he  lost,  making  2m.  28  l-2s.,  the  best  time  then  on  re- 
cord. In  the  following  year,  Tippecanoe  paced  at  New 
Orleans  in  2m.  36s.,  carrying  a  very  heavy  rider ;  and  Un- 
known paced  on  Beacon  Course  in  2m.  23s.,  a  performance 
that  had  never  then  been  equalled  by  trotter  or  pacer.  Old 
Pacer  Pilot  paced  in  2m.  26s.  with  1651bs.  on  his  back.  In 
1850,  Roanoke  paced  under  saddle  in  2m.  21  l-2s.  He  was  a 
roan  gelding,  and  nothing  is  known  of  his  pedigree.  In  1854 
Pocahontas  paced  three  heats  in  a  race  at  New  Orleans  in 
2:20,  2:25,  and  2:20.  But  in  the  next  year  she  brought  the 
figures  down  to  something  less  than  has  ever  been  equalled 
by  any  trotter  but  Dexter,  and  not  surpassed  by  him.  In.  a 
race  with  Hero,  the  pacer,  in  a  wagon  that  weighed  with  the 
driver  2651bs.  Pocahontas  paced  the  first  mile  in  2 :17.  This 
was  never  beaten  but  once,  and  not  until  1868,  when  Billy 
Boyce  paced  at  Buffalo  faster  than  any  other  horse  had  ever 
trotted  or  paced.  In  a  race  with  Holla  Goldust,  a  trotter, 
mile  heats,  3  in  5,  to  saddle,  Boyce  paced  the  second  mile  in 
2 :15  1-4,  and  the  third  in  2 :14  1-4,  pacing  the  last  half  of  the 
second  mile  in  1 :5  1-4,  and  the  first  half  of  the  third  mile 
in  1 :6. 

Many  pacers  belong  to  trotting  families,  and  some  trot- 
ter's seem  to  make  their  speed  from  a  pacing  ancestor,  though 
this  is  not  common.  Oneida  Chief  was  half-brother  of  Flora 
Temple's  sire.  Woodpecker,  the  trotter,  and  James  K  Polk, 
the  pacer,  both  took  their  speed  from  the  same  dam.  Hero, 
the  pacer,  and  competitor  of  Pocahontas  in  her  wonderful 
performance,  was  begotten  by  Harris's  Hambletonian,  the 
sire  of  the  trotters  True  John,  Green  Mountain  Maid,  John 
Anderson,  and  Sontag,  a  mare  that  was  at  first  a  natural 
pacer  and  afterward  trotted  very  fast.  Saltram,  the  sire  of 
Highland  Maid,  was  a  pacer,  and  his  dam,  Roxana,  was  also 
a  pacer.  Highland  Maid  paced  naturally,  but  was  taught  to 
trot,  and  went  very  fast.  At  six  years  old  she  trotted  against 
Flora  Temple,  and  lost  the  race  by  getting  tired,  being  young, 
and  going  into  a  pace,  which  was  her  natural  and  easiest  gait. 
She  won  the  first  heat  in  2 :29,  the  second  in  2 :27,  but  was 
distanced  in  the  third.  Highland  Lass,  a  daughter  of  High- 
land Maid,  was  a  fast  trotter,  and  died  in  1865.  Her  daugh- 


STUD  BOOK.  151 

ter,  Highland  Ash,  by  Ashland,  is  also  a  trotter,  and  in  1868 
won  the  Spii°it  of  the  Times  Stake  for  three-year  olds,  over 
four  thousand  dollars,  in  2:48.  Flatbush  Maid,  one  of  Mr. 
Robt.  Bonner's  pair  that  trotted  to  a  road  wagon  in  2 :26, 
was  begotten  by  a  Chestnut  pacing  horse  that  also  trotted, 
Pocahontas  is  nearly  thoroughbred,  and  was  begotten  by 
Cadmus,  a  son  of  American  Eclipse.  She,  therefore,  takes 
her  wondeiftil  pacing  speed  from  Messenger,  the  sire  of  Mil- 
ler's Damsel,  who  was  the  dam  of  American  Eclipse.  Her 
daughter  Pocahontas,  Jr.,  by  Ethan  Allen,  is  a  trotter,  and  very 
fast. 

Billy  Boyce,  a  bay  gelding,  and  very  bloodlike  in  his  ap- 
pearance, is  by  Corbeau,  a  horse  owned  near  Harodsburg, 
Ky.,  and  the  sire  of  several  trotters.  Corbeau  was  by  a  Cana- 
dian, not  known  as  a  begetter  of  trotters  ;  but  his  dam  was 
by  Frank,  a  thoroughbred,  by  Sir  Charles,  his  grandam  by 
Sir  Archy  ;  which  gives  Corbeau  two  lines  of  descent  from 
imported  Diomed,  and  probabiy  gives  him  also  his  trotting 
quality. 

Boyce  has  a  cross  of  the  Messenger,  through  American 
Eclipse,  the  sire  of  his  granddam,  and  this  gives  him  another 
cross  of  Diomed,  through  Duroc,  the  sire  of  American  Eclipse. 
He  is,  therefore,  of  kindred  blood  with  Lady  Thorn,  Dexter, 
Mambrino  Pilot,  Kemble  Jackson,  Independent,  John  Mor- 
gan, Peerless,  and  others  of  celebrity  ;  that  is  they  all 
combine  in  their  pedigrees  the  blood  of  Messenger  and 
Diomed. 

These  facts,  a  few  of  the  many  that  could  be  cited,  show 
the  close  relationship  between  pacers  and  trotters.  They  de- 
rive their  speed  from  the  same  sources ;  trotters  beget 
pacers,  and  pacers  beget  trotters  ;  many  go  fast  in  one  gait, 
and,  after  being  taught  the  other,  go  equally  fast  in  that ;  so 
that  they  may  properly  enough  be  classed  together,  and 
designated  by  the  common  title  of  American  Trotters. 

Though  trotters  are  derived  from  so  few  sources  as  to  be 
nearly  all  related  to  all  the  others,  there  are  certain  families 
that  claim  especial  notice. 

The  Abdallahs  are  an  older  family,  and  not  less  distin- 
guished. 

The  Vermont  Black  Hawks  were  once  very  popular,  and 
for  a  few  years  their  fame  quite  eclipsed  all  other  families. 

The  Bashaws  are  a  very  excellent  family  of  trotters  but 
nearly  obliterated  now  by  admixture  with  others.  They  are 
a  branch  of  the  Messenger  family  that  took  their  name  from 
an  imported  Arabian,  but  not  the  trotting  quality.  The  first 


152  THE  ORANGE   COUNTY 

of  the  family  was  Young  Bashaw,  a  son  of  the  Arabian;  and 
his  best  colt  was  Andrew  Jackson,  the  first  stallion  that  ever 
trotted  in  a  public  match.  From  him  are  descended  many 
sub-families — the  Clays,  the  Patchens,  &c.  In  a  published 
pedigree  of  Green's  Bashaw,  may  be  seen  the  pedigree  of 
Andrew  Jackson,  and  why  he  was  the  best  son  of  Young 
Bashaw.  Charlotte  Temple,  a  very  fast  mare  that  was  taken 
to  France,  her  full  brother,  the  stallion  Saladin,  and  Black 
Bashaw,  another  stallion,  were  ah1  begotten  by  Young  Bashaw, 
and  the  two  last  named  were  both  progenitors  of  many  good 
trotters.  Comet,  Whisky,  Lantern,  Belle  of  Baltimore,  and 
Lightning,  were  all  by  Black  Bashaw.  One  of  Andrew  Jack- 
son's best  colts  was  the  stallion  Long  Island  Black  Hawk, 
often  confounded  with  Vermont  Black  Hawk,  the  Morgan 
Horse.  They  should  be  carefully  distinguished.  Long  Is- 
land Black  Hawk  had  Messenger  blood  by  four  lines  of 
descent,  and  his  descendants  inherit  the  trotting  in  large  de- 
gree. Vermont  Black  Hawk  begot  ,many  good  horses,  but 
the  speed  seems  to  run  out  in  a  few  generations.  He  had  no 
Messenger  in  him. 

George  M.  Patchen  was  descended  from  Long  Island  Black 
Hawk  through  Henry  Clay  and  Cassius  M.  Clay,  with  a  cross 
of  Imported  Diomed  and  another  of  Imported  Trustee. 
Patchen's  descendants  have  not  met  the  expectations  of 
breeders.  They  are  coarse  in  form,  and  subject  to  curbs  and 
ring-bones.  Lucy,  the  best  of  his  get,  was  out  of  a  May  Day 
mare,  and  thus  got  another  cross  of  the  Diomed  from  Sir 
Henry,  the  sire  of  May  Day. 

Long  Island  Black  Hawk's  best  son  as  a  stock  horse  was 
Henry  Clay,  out  of  Surry,  a  mare  of  great  speed  from  Canada. 
Henry  Clay  begot  trotters,  and  died  in  1867,  aged  30  years. 
His  son,  Cassius  M.  Clay,  out  of  a  fast  mare  of  unknown 
pedigree,  was  the  sire  of  Patchen,  and  the  ancestor  of  a  numer- 
ous progeny  of  trotters.  He  may  be  considered  the  founder 
of  a  family  of  Clays,  including  C.  M.  Clay,  Jr.,  Harry  Clay 
(believed  by  many  to  be  the  sire  of  Dexter),  Amos's  C.  M. 
Clay,  the  sire  of  American  Girl,  that  trotted  in  2m.  40s.  at 
4  years  old,  and  2m.  32  l-2s.  at  5  years  old;  Clay  Pilot,  Ken- 
tucky Clay,  Cora,  Nonpareil,  and  others. 

A  very  good  and  handsome  family  are  the  Morrills,  a 
branch  of  the  Morgans;  Morrill  being  a  descendant  of  Justin 
Morgan,  with  two  crosses  of  Diomed  and  four  of  Messenger 
to  account  for  the  trotting.  His  best  colt  was  Young  Mor- 
rill, owned  by  Samuel  Perkins,  Cambridge,  Mass.,  now  about 
20  years  old,  and  sire  of  Draco,  Fearnought,  Danville 


STUD   BOOK.  153 

Boy,  Mountain  Maid,  Hiram  Woodruff  and  many  others  that 
are  among  the  best  of  road  horses.  He  is  more  of  a  Morgan 
than  his  sire,  having  two  lines  of  descent  from  Justin  Mor- 
gan on  his  dam's  side. 

The  Morgans  are  not  distinguished  as  fast  trotters,  though 
many  of  them,  like  the  Canadians,  from  whom  they  are  in 
part  descended,  are  good  and  smart  road  horses;  and  when 
crossed  with  Messenger,  as  Ethan  Allen,  Flying  Cloud,  Mer- 
rill, Lone  Star,  &c.,  they  are  among  the  best. 

Another  family  of  very  excellent  reputation  are  the  Ameri- 
can Stars.  The  founder  of  the  family  was  foaled  in  1837,  and 
died  in  1861,  the  property  of  Jonas  Seely,  Orange  County 
N.  Y.  He  had  some  Messenger  blood,  but  more  of  Diomed 
through  Duroc  in  one  line  and  Sir  Henry  in  another.  The  dam 
Dexter  was  by  American  Star,  as  were  a  good  many  fast  trot- 
ters, the  best  of  which  is  Peerless,  a  gray  mare,  foaled  in  1853, 
and  owned  by  Robert  Bonner,  of  New  York.  Hiram  Wood- 
ruff said  she  was  the  fastest  animal  that  he  or  any  other  man 
ever  drove  to  a  wagon,  and  that  he  drove  her  a  quarter  in 
30s.  and  a  mile  in  2m.  23  l-4s.  Her  dam  was  full  of  Messen- 
ger blood.  American  Star,  was  a  rat-tailed  horse,  and  some 
of  his  colts  are  rather  deficient  in  hair  on  their  tails;  but  they 
are  fast  and  very  gamey. 

Green's  Bashaw,  foaled  in  1855,  and  owned  in  Muscatine, 
Iowa,  has  some  superior  colts,  among  them  Kirkwood  and 
Bashaw,  Jr.,  both  fast;  and  this,  together  with  his  remark- 
able pedigree,  justifies  the  expectation  that  he  will  become 
the  head  of  a  distinguished  family.  On  his  sire's  side  he  has 
the  Messenger  blood  through  four  channels,  and  on  his  dam's 
side  the  same  pedigree  as  Rysdyk's  Hambletonian  with  an 
additional  cross  of  Webster's  Tom  Thumb,  a  fast  horse  that 
looked  like  a  Canadian  and  begot  trotters. 

Golddust,  a  chestnut,  foaled  about  1855,  and  owned  by 
L.  L.  Dorsey,  Lexington,  Ky.,  has  begotten  quite  a  numerous 
family  of  trotters  considering  his  age.  He  is  a  very  blood- 
like  horse,  a  fast  walker  and  a  fast  trotter.  He  takes  his 
speed  from  his  sire,  Vermont  Morgan,  whose  dam  was  by 
Cock-of-the-Rock,  he  by  Duroc,  a  son  of  Diomed.  Cock-of- 
the-Rock's  dam  was  Romp,  a  full  sister  to  Miller's  Damsel, 
by  Messenger.  On  his  dam's  side  he  has  some  Arabian  and 
thoroughbred  blood  that  shows  in  the  style  and  form  of  his 
colts. 

The  Pilots,  another  Kentucky  family,  are  descended  from 
the  Old  Pacer  Pilot,  and  are  best  represented  by  one  of  his 
sons,  Alexander's  Pilot,  Jr.,  and  his  descendants.  Pilot,  Jr., 


154  THE  CHANGE   COUNTY 

owned  by  B.  A.  Alexander,  Lexington,  Ky.,  is  a  black,  and 
was  foaled  about  1845.  His  darn  was  Nancy  Pope,  by  Havoc, 
a  grandson  of  Diomed,  and  thus  he  takes  the  trotting  from 
both  sides,  and  in  excellent  combination.  He  is  the  sire  of 
John  Morgan,  Jim  Eockey,  Tackey,  Pilot  Temple,  Dixie, 
Tattler,  and  many  more.  John  Morgan  was  the  closest  com- 
petitor of  Flora  Temple  in  her  best  days,  and  every  way  one 
of  the  best  trotters  in  the  country.  His  dam  was  by  Medoc, 
a  son  of  American  Eclipse,  and  he  thus  had  another  cross  of 
Diomed,  and  one  of  Messenger.  Tackey  has  trotted  in  2m. 
28s.;  Pilot  Temple,  out  of  the  dam  of  Flora  Temple,  trotted 
in  1868  in  2m.  31s.;  Jim  Hockey  trotted  in  1859  in  2m.  32s.; 
and  Tattler,  5  years  old,  trotted  in  1868  in  2m.  26s.,  a  per- 
formance that  probably  has  never  been  equalled  by  any  horse 
of  the  same  age.  The  famous  twenty-miler,  John  Stewart, 
is  a  descendant  of  Old  Pilot,  through  Tom  Wonder  and  Tom 
Crowder — the  last,  a  son  of  the  old  pacer. 

A  modern  family,  is  composed  of  the  descendants  of 
Mambrino  Chief — a  horse  that  was  bred  in  the  East,  and 
taken  to  Kentucky  by  James  B.  Clay  in  1854,  where  he  died 
in  1861.  His  sire  was  Mambrino  Paymaster,  by  Mambrino, 
the  best  son  of  Messenger  in  the  trotting  line.  His  fast  pro- 
geny is  very  numerous  and  very  famous,  and  includes  Lady 
Thorn,  Bay  Chief,  Mambrino  Pilot,  Ericsson,  Mambrino 
Patchen,  Brignoli,  Kentucky  Chief,  Ashland,  &o. 

Lady  Thorn  stands  first  among  all  trotters  now  in  public, 
and  second  only  to  Dexter  and  Flora  Temple.  Her  pedigree 
and  her  performances  are  in  perfect  accord;  the  speed  and 
bottom  both  represented  by  three  lines  of  descent  from  Mes- 
senger, and  three  from  Diomed;  herself  almost  thorough- 
bred. 

Bay  Chief,  unfortunately  shot  by  guerrillas,  trotted  half 
a  mile  when  4  years  old  in  1m.  8s.,  a  performance  rarely 
equalled  at  any  age.  Ericsson  trotted  at  4  years  old  in  2m. 
30  l-2s.,  to  a  wagon,  and  is  now  at  the  head  of  the  large  breed- 
ing stud  of  K.  C.  Barker,  Detroit,  Mich.  Brignoli,  at  5  years 
old  trotted  two-mile  heats  in  harness  in  5m.  20  l-2s.,  5m.  18 
l-2s.,  and  5m.  171-2s.  Mambrino  Patchen  is  a  full  brother 
of  Lady  Thorn,  and  wretchedly  misnamed,  being  related  to 
Patchen  only  in  a  remote  degree,  though  both  inheriting 
largely  the  Messenger  blood. 

The  most  distinguished  son  of  Mambrino  Chief,  is  Mam- 
brino Pilot,  owned  by  C.  P.  Keif,  of  Norristown,  Pa. ;  and, 
though  foaled  so  lately  as  1859,  is  already  distinguished  as  a 
sire  of  trotters.  He  is  a  brown  of  large  size  and  pony  built, 


STUD  BOOK.  155 

faultless  in  form  and  action,  with  an  air  of  majesty  in  every 
attitude.  At  6  years  old,  with  very  short  preparation,  he 
trotted  against  time  in  2m.  27s.  He  inherits  the  blood  of 
Messenger  through  three  channels,  and  of  Diomed  through 
two,  with  a  cross  of  Old  Pilot,  through  his  best  son,  Pilot,  Jr. 

Considering  that  his  oldest  colts  are  but  5  years  old,  and 
that  when  those  now  old  enough  to  show  speed  were  begot- 
tsn,  he  had  not  made  his  reputation,  and  did  not  receive  the 
best  of  trotting  mares,  the  number  and  speed  of  his  fast  colts 
is  truly  astonishing. 

Gift,  ch.  g.,  received  five  forfeits  at  4  years  old,  and  chal- 
lenged through  the  Spirit  of  the  Times  any  colt  of  the 
same  age,  to  trot  in  harness  for  $1000  a  side,  without  being 
accepted.  Bellringer,  b.  s.,  trotted  in  2in.  40s.,  before  he  was 
4  years  old.  Gift  and  Bellringer  both  belong  to  Mr.  Relf. 
Cranston,  owned  by  Amasa  Sprague,  R  I.,  at  three  years  old, 
trotted  the  second  mile  in  a  two-mile  heat  in  2m.  40  l-2s. 
Vosburgh,  ch.  s.,  the  property  of  A.  &  T.  H.  Carpenter,  of 
Lyons,  Iowa,  when  just  3  years  old,  trotted  several  times  in 
2m.  40s.,  and  challenged  any  other  horse  in  the  world  of  the 
same  age,  to  trot  for  any  amount,  at  4  years  old,  in  Septem- 
ber 1869.  Charles  S.  Dole,  of  Chicago,  El.,  has  a  chestnut 
mare  in  his  breeding  stud,  by  Mambrino  Pilot,  that  in  the 
management  of  Dr.  Kerr,  of  Lexington,  Ky.,  trotted  in  3m. 
at  2  years  old.  Eschol,  Detective,  Etta,  Agitator,  and  Mam- 
brino Messenger  are  other  fast  colts  of  the  same  family. 

VICES   AND   DISAGREEABLE    OB    DANGEROUS   HABITS   QF   THE   HQRSE. 

The  horse  has  many  defects,  occasionally  amounting  to 
vices.  Some  of  them  may  be  attributed  to  natural  temper, 
for  the  human  being  scarcely  discovers  more  peculiarities  of 
habit  and  disposition  than  does  the  horse.  The  majority  of 
them,  however,  as  perhaps  in  the  human  being,  are  the  con- 
sequences of  a  faulty  education. 

RESTTVENESS. 

Of  all  the  vices  of  the  horse  restiveness  is  the  most  an 
noying  and  dangerous.  It  is  the  produce  of  bad  temper  and 
worse  education;  and,  like  all  other  habits  founded  on  nature 
and  stamped  by  education,  it  is  inveterate.  Whether  it  ap- 
pears in  the  form  of  kicking,  or  rearing,  or  plunging,  or  bolt- 
ing, or  in  any'way  that  threatens  danger  to  the  rider  or  the 
horse,  it  rarely  admits  of  cure. 


156  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 


BACKING   OR    GIBBING. 

One  of  the  kinds  of  restiveness  is  backing  or  gibbing. 
Some  horses  have  the  habit  of  backing  at  first  starting.  A 
moderate  application  of  the  whip  will  usually  be  effectual 
Others,  after  starting,  exhibit  obstinacy  and  viciousness,  fre- 
quently the  effect  of  bad  breaking.  A  hasty  and  passionate 
breaker  will  often  make  a  really  good-tempered  young  horse 
an  inveterate  gibber.  Every  young  horse  is  at  first  shy  of 
the  collar.  If  he  is  too  quickly  forced  to  throw  his  weight 
into  it,  he  will  possibly  take  a  dislike  to  it,  that  will  show 
itself  in  the  form  of  gibbing  as  long  as  he  lives.  Resort  to  no 
severity,  even  if  the  colt  should  go  out  several  times  without 
even  touching  collar.  The  example  of  his  companion  will 
ultimately  induce  him  to  take  to  it  voluntarily  and  effectually. 
A  large  and  heavy  stone  should  be  put  behind  the  wheel  be- 
fore starting,  when  the  horse  finding  it  more  difficult  to  back 
than  to  go  forward,  will  gradually  forget  this  unpleasant 
trick.  It  will  likewise  be  of  advantage  so  to  start  that  the 
horse  shall  have  to  back  up  hill.  This  will  soon  make  him 
go  forward.  A  little  coaxing,  or  leading,  or  moderate  flagel- 
lation, will  assist  in  accomplishing  the  cure.  When,  however, 
a  horse  has  been  improperly  checked  or  corrected,  swerves 
and  gibs,  and  backs,  it  is  a  more  serious  matter.  Persuasion 
should  first  be  tried;  and,  then  coercion,  but  no  cruelty. 
The  horse  may,  perhaps,  be  whipped  into  motion,  but  if  he 
has  once  begun  to  gib,  the  habit  will  be  so  rapidly  and  com- 
pletely formed,  that  he  will  become  insensible  to  all  severity. 

It  is  useless  and  dangerous  to  contend  with  a  horse  deter- 
mined to  back,  unless  there  is  plenty  of  room,  and,  by  tight 
reining,  the  driver  can  make  him  back  in  the  precise  direc- 
tion he  wishes,  and  especially  up-hill.  Such  a  horse  should 
be  immediately  sold,  or  turned  over  to  some  other  work. 
As  a  wheeler,  or,  in  the  middle  of  a  team  at  agricultural  work, 
he  may  be  serviceable.  The  reformation  will  last  while  he 
is  thus  employed,  but,  like  restiveness  generally,  it  will  be 
delusive  when  the  horse  returns  to  his  former  occupation. 
The  disposition  to  annoy  will  very  soon  follow  the  power  to 
do  it.  When  a  horse,  not  often  accustomed  to  gib,  betrays  a 
reluctance  to  work,  or  a  determination  not  to  work,  common 
sense  and  humanity  will  demand  that  some  consideration 
should  be  taken  before  measures  of  severity  are  resorted  to. 
The  horse  may  be  taxed  beyond  his  power.  He  soon  dis- 
covers whether  this  is  the  case,  and  by  refusing  to  proceed, 


STUD  BOOK.  157 

tells  his  driver  that  it  is  so.  Sometimes  the  withers  are 
wrung,  and  the  shoulders  sadly  galled,  and  the  pain,  which  is 
intense  on  level  ground  and  with  fair  draught,  becomes  insup- 
portable when  he  tugs  up  a  steep  acclivity.  These  things 
should  be  examined  into,  and,  if  possible,  rectified;  for, 
under  such  circumstances,  cruelty  may  produce  obstinacy  and 
vice.  They  who  are  accustomed  to  horses  know  what  seem- 
ingly trivial  circumstances  occasionally  produce  this  vice.  A 
horse  whose  shoulders  are  raw,  or  have  frequently  been  so, 
will  not  start  with  a  cold  collar.  When  the  collar  has  acquired 
the  warmth  of  the  parts  on  which  it  presses,  the  animal  will 
go  without  reluctance.  Some  determined  gibbers  have  been 
reformed  by  constantly  wearing  a  false  collar,  or  strip  of 
cloth  round  the  shoulders,  so  that  the  coldness  of  the  usual 
collar  should  never  be  felt;  and  others  have  been  cured  of 
gibbing  by  keeping  the  collar  on  night  and  day,  for  the  ani- 
mal is  not  able  to  lie  down  completely  at  full  length,  which 
the  tired  horse  is  always  glad  to  do. 

Brrraa. 

This  is  either  natural  ferocity,  or  acquired  from  the  teas- 
ing play  of  stable-boys.  When  a  horse  is  tickled  and  pinched 
by  thoughtless  and  mischevious  youths,  he  will  first  pretend 
to  bite  his  tormentors;  by  degrees  he  will  proceed  farther, 
and  actually  bite  them,  after  that,  he  will  be  the  first  to  chal- 
lenge to  the  combat  At  length,  this  war,  half  playful  and 
half  in  earnest,  becomes  habitual  to  him,  and  degenerates 
into  absolute  viciousness.  It  is  not  possible  to  enter  the  stall 
of  some  horses  without  danger.  A  stallion  addicted  to  biting 
is  a  most  formidable  creature.  He  lifts  the  intruder-attacks 
him  with  his  feet-tramples  upon  him,  and  there  are  many 
instances  in  which  he  effects  irreparable  mischief.  A  reso- 
lute groom  may  escape.  When  he  has  once  got  firm  hold  of 
the  head  of  the  horse,  he  may  back  him,  or  muzzle  him,  or 
harness  him;  but  he  must  be  always  on  his  guard.  It  is  sel- 
dom that  anything  can  be  done  in  the  way  of  cure.  Kind- 
ness will  aggravate  the  evil,  and  no  degree  of  severity  will 
correct  it  "  I  have  seen,"  says  Professor  Stewart,  "  biters 
punished  until  they  trembled  in  every  joint,  and  were  ready 
to  drop,  but  have  never  in  any  case  known  them  cured  by 
this  treatment,  or  by  any  other.  The  lash  is  forgotten  in  an 
hour,  and  the  horse  is  as  ready  and  determined  to  repeat  the 
offence  as  before.  He  appears  unable  to  resist  the  tempta- 
tion, and  in  its  worst  form  biting  is  a  species  of  insanity." 


158  THE   OKANGE   COUNTY 

Prevention,  however,  is  in  the  power  of  every  proprietor  of 
horses.  While  he  insists  on  gentle  and  humane  treatment  of 
his  cattle,  he  should  systematically  forbid  this  horse-play. 

GETTING  THE  CHEEK  OP  THE  BIT  INTO  THE  MOUTH 

Some  horses  are  very  expert  at  it.  They  soon  find  what 
advantage  it  gives  them  over  their  driver,  who  by  this  man- 
oeuvre loses  almost  all  command.  Harsh  treatment  is  use- 
less. All  that  can  be  done  is,  by  fastening  a  round  piece  of 
leather  on  the  inside  of  the  cheek  of  the  bit. 

KICKING. 

This,  as  a  vice,  is  another  consequence  of  the  culpable 
habit  of  grooms  and  stable-boys  of  teasing  the  horse.  There 
is  no  cure  for  this  vice;  and  he  cannot  be  justified  who  keeps 
a  kicking  horse  in  his  stable.  Some  horses  acquire,  from 
mere  irritability  and  fidgetiness,  a  habit  of  kicking  at  the 
the  stall  or  the  bail,  and  particularly  at  night.  Mares 
are  far  more  subject  to  it  than  horses.  Before  the  habit 
is  inveterately  established,  a  thorn  bush  or  a  piece  of  furze 
fastened  against  the  partition  or  post  will  sometimes  effect  a 
cure.  When  the  horse  finds  that  he  is  pretty  severely  pricked, 
he  will  not  long  continue  to  punish  himself.  A  much  more 
serious  vice  is  kicking  in  harness.  From  the  least  annoyance 
about  the  rump  or  quarters,  some  horses  will  kick  at  a  most 
violent  rate,  and  destroy  the  bottom  of  the  chaise,  and  endan- 
ger the  limbs  of  the  driver.  Those  that  are  fidgety  in  the 
stable  are  most  apt  to  do  this.  If  the  reins  should  perchance 
get  under  the  tail,  the  violence  of  the  kicker  will  often  be 
most  outrageous;  and  while  the  animal  presses  down  his  tail 
so  tightly  that  it  is  almost  impossible  to  extricate  the  reins, 
he  continues  to  plunge  until  he  has  demolished  everything 
behind  him.  This  is  a  vice  standing  foremost  in  point  of 
danger,  and  which  no  treatment  will  always  conquer.  It  will 
be  altogether  in  vain  to  try  coercion.  If  the  shafts  are  very 
strong  and  without  flaw,  or  if  they  are  plated  with  iron 
underneath,  and  a  stout  kicking-strap  resorted  to  which  will 
barely  allow  the  horse  the  proper  use  of  his  hind  limbs  in 
progression,  but  not  permit  him  to  rise  them  sufficiently  for 
the  purpose  of  kicking,  he  may  be  prevented  from  doing  mis- 
chief; or  if  he  is  harnessed  to  a  heavy  cart,  and  thus  confined, 
his  efforts  to  lash  out  will  be  restrained:  but  it  is  frequently 
t»  very  unpleasant  thing  to  witness  tnese  aitempis, 


STUD   BOOK.  159 

ineffectual,  to  demolish  the  vehicle,  for  the  shafts  or  the  kick- 
ing-strap  may  possibly  break,  and  extreme  danger  may  ensue. 
The  man,  however,  who  must  come  within  reach  of  a  kicker 
should  come  as  close  to  him  as  possible.  The  blow  may  thus 
become  a  push. 

UNSTEADINESS  WHILE   BEING   MOUNTED. 

When  this  merely  amounts  to  eagerness  to  start,  it  may 
be  remedied  by  an  active  horseman.  Severity  will  here,  more 
decidedly  than  in  any  other  case,  do  harm.  The  rider  should 
be  fearless — he  should  carelessly  and  confidently  approach 
the  horse,  mount  at  the  first  effort,  and  then  restrain  him  for 
a  while;  patting  him,  and  not  suffering  hi™  to  proceed  until 
he  becomes  perfectly  quiet  Horses  of  this  kind  should 
have  sufficient  exercise.  When  the  difficulty  of  mounting 
arises,  not  from  eagerness  to  start,  but  unwillingness  to  be 
ridden,  the  sooner  that  horse  is  disposed  of  the  better. 

REARING. 

This  sometimes  results  from  playfulness,  but  it  is  oftener  a 
desperate  effort  to  unhorse  the  rider,  and  consequently  a  vice. 
The  horse  that  has  decidedly  reared,  should  never  be  trusted 
again,  unless,  indeed,  it  was  the  fault  of  the  rider,  who  had 
been  using  a  deep  curb  and  a  sharp  bit.  The  horse-breaker's 
remedy,  that  of  pulling  the  horse  backward  on  a  soft  piece  of 
ground,  should  not  be  practised.  Many  horses  have  been 
injured  in  the  spine,  and  others  have  broken  their  necks,  by 
being  thus  suddenly  pulled  over. 

RUNNING   AWAY. 

Some  headstrong  horses  will  occasionally  endeavor  to  bolt 
with  the  best  rider.  Others  with  their  wonted  sagacity  en- 
deavor thus  to  dislodge  the  timid  or  unskillful  one.  Some 
are  hard  to  hold,  or  bolt  only  during  the  excitement  of  the 
chase;  others  will  run  away,  prompted  by  a  vicious  propen- 
sity alone.  There  is  no  certain  cure  here.  The  method 
which  affords  any  probability  of  success  is,  to  ride  such  a 
horse  with  a  strong  curb  and  sharp  bit;  to  have  him  always 
firmly  in  hand;  and,  if  he  will  run  away,  and  the  place  will 
admit  of  it,  to  give  him  (sparing  neither  curb,  whip,  nor 
spur)  a  great  deal  more  running  than  he  likes. 


160  THE  ORANGE  COUNTY 


VICIOUS  TO   CLEAN. 

It  would  scarcely  be  credited  to  what  an  extent  -this  ex- 
ists in  some  horses  that  are  otherwise  perfectly  quiet.  If 
horses  have  been  curried  with  a  broken  comb,  or  hardly 
rubbed  with  an  uneven  brush,  the  recollection  of  the  torture 
they  have  felt  makes  them  vicious,  during  every  succeeding 
operation  of  the  kind.  This,  however,  is  a  vice  that  may  be 
conquered.  If  the  horse  is  dressed  with  a  lighter  hand,  and 
wisped  rather  than  brushed,  and  the  places  where  the  skin  is 
most  sensitive  are  avoided  as  much  as  thorough  cleanliness 
will  allow,  he  will  gradually  lose  the  recollection  of  former 
ill-treatment,  and  become  tractable  and  quiet. 

VICIOUS  TO   SHOE. 

The  correction  of  this  is  more  peculiarly  the  business  of 
the  smith.  It  may  be  expected  that  there  will  be  some  diffi- 
culty in  shoeing  a  horse  for  the  first  few  times.  It  is  an 
operation  that  gives  him  a  little  uneasiness,  The  man  to 
whom  he  is  most  accustomed  should  go  with  him  to  the  forge; 
and  if  another  and  steady  horse  is  shod  before  him,  he  may 
be  induced  more  readily  to  submit.  It  cannot  be  denied  that 
the  majority  of  horses  vicious  to  shoe  are  rendered  so  by  harsh 
usage,  and  by  the  pain  of  correction  being  added  to  the  un- 
easines  of  shoeing.  There  are  few  horses  that  may  not  be 
gradually  rendered  manageable  for  this  purpose  by  mild- 
ness and  firmness  in  the  operator.  They  wiU  soon  under- 
stand that  no  harm  is  meant,  and  they  will  not  forget  their 
usual  habit  of  obedience.  This  is  a  very  serious  vice,  for  it 
not  only  exposes  the  animal  to  occasional  severe  injury  from 
his  own  struggles,  but  also  from  the  correction  of  the  irritated 
smith,  whose  limbs  and  whose  life  being  in  jeopardy,  may  be 
forgiven  if  he  is  sometimes  a  little  too  hard-handed.  Such  a 
horse  is  very  liable,  and  without  any  fault  of  the  smith,  to  be 
pricked  and  lamed  in  shoeing.  If,  therefore,  mild  treatment 
will  not  correct  this  vice,  the  horse  cannot  be  too  soon  got 
rid  of. 

SWALLOWING  WITHOUT   GRINDING. 

Some  greedy  horses  habitually  swallow  their  corn  without 
properly  grinding  it,  and  the  power  of  digestion  not  being 
adequate  to  the  dissolving  of  the  husk,  no  nutriment  is  ex- 
tracted, and  the  oats  are  voided  whole.  This  is  particularly 


STUD   BOOK.  161 

the  case  when  horses  of  unequal  appetite  feed  from  the  same 
manger.  Some  horses,  however,  are  naturally  greedy  feed- 
ers, and  will  not,  even  when  alone,  allow  themselves  time  to 
chew  or  grind  their  corn.  In  consequence  of  this  they  carry 
but  little  flesh,  and  are  not  equal  to  severe  work.  The 
remedy  is,  not  to  let  such  horses  fast  too  long.  The  nose- 
bag should  be  the  companion  of  every  considerable  journey. 
The  food  should  likewise  be  of  such  a  nature  that  it  cannot 
be  rapidly  bolted.  Chaff  should  should  be  plentifully  mixed 
with  the  corn,  and,  in  some  cases,  and  especially  in  horses  of 
slow  work,  it  should,  with  the  corn,  constitute  the  whole  of 
the  food.  In  eveiy  case  of  this  kind  the  teeth  should  be  care- 
fully examined.  Some  of  them  may  be  unduly  lengthened, 
particularly  the  first  of  the  grinders;  or  they  may  be  ragged 
at  the  edges,  and  may  abrade  and  wound  the  cheek;  these 
animals,  as  too  often  happens  in  sore  throat,  would  rather 
starve  than  put  themselves  to  much  pain. 

CKEB-BITING. 

This  is  a  very  unpleasant  habit,  and  a  considerable  defect, 
although  not  so  serious  a  one  as  some  have  represented.  The 
horse  lays  hold  of  the  manger  with  his  teeth,  violently  ex- 
tends his  neck,  and  then,  after  some  convulsive  action  of  the 
throat,  a  slight  grunting  is  heard,  accompanied  by  a  sucking 
or  drawing  in  of  air.  It  is  not  an  effort  at  simple  eructation, 
arising  from  indigestion.  It  is  the  inhalation  of  air.  The  ef- 
fects of  crib-biting  are  plain  enough.  The  teeth  are  injured 
and  worn  away,  and  that,  in  an  old  horse  to  a  very  serious 
degree.  A  considerable  quantity  of  corn  is  often  lost,  for  the 
horse  will  frequently  crib  with  his  mouth  full  of  it,  and  the 
greater  part  will  fall  over  the  edge  of  the  manger.  Much  sa- 
liva escapes  while  the  manger  is  thus  forcibly  held,  the  loss 
of  which  must  be  of  serious  detriment  in  impairing  the  di- 
gestion. The  crib-biting  horse  is  notoriously  more  subject  to 
colic  than  other  horses,  and  to  a  species  difficult  of  treat- 
ment and  frequently  dangerous.  Although  many  a  crib-biter 
is  stout  and  strong,  and  capable  of  all  ordinary  work,  these 
horses  do  not  generally  carry  so  much  flesh  as  others,  and 
have  not  their  endurance.  On  these  accounts  crib-biting  has 
very  properly  been  decided  to  be  unsoundness.  It  is  one  of 
those  tricks  which  are  exceedingly  contagious..  Every  com- 
panion of  a  crib-biter  in  the  same  stables  is  likely  to  acquire 
the  habit,  and  it  is  the  most  inveterate  of  all  habits.  In  de- 
fiance of  the  annoyance  which  these  may  occasion,  the  horse 


162  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

will  persist  in  the  attack  on  his  manger.  A  strap  buckled 
tightly  round  the  neck,  by  compressing  the  wind-pipe,  is  the 
best  means  of  preventing  the  possibility  of  this  trick;  but  the 
strap  must  be  constantly  worn,  and  its  pressure  is  too  apt  to 
produce  a  worse  affection,  viz.,  an  irritation  in  the  wind-pipe, 
which  terminates  in  roaring.  The  only  remedy  is  a  muzzle, 
with  bars  across  the  bottom;  sufficiently  wide  to  enable  the 
animal  to  pick  up  his  corn  and  to  pull  his  hay,  but  not  to 
grasp  the  edge  of  the  manger.  If  this  is  worn  for  a  consid- 
erable period,  the  horse  may  be  tired  of  attempting  that 
which  he  cannot  accomplish,  and  for  a  while  forget  the  habit, 
but,  in  a  majority  of  cases,  the  desire  of  crib-biting  will  re- 
turn with  the  power  of  gratifying  it.  The  causes  of  crib- 
biting  are  various  and  some  of  them  beyond  the  control  of 
the  proprietor  of  the  horse. 

WIND-SUCKING. 

This  bears  a  close  analogy  to  crib-biting.  The  horse 
stands  with  his  neck  bent;  his  head  drawn  inward;  his  lips  al- 
ternately a  little  opened  and  then  closed,  and  a  noise  is  heard 
as  if  he  were  sucking.  This  diminishes  the  value  of  the  horse 
almost  as  much  as  crib-biting;  it  is  as  contagious,  and  it  is 
as  inveterate.  The  only  remedies  are  tying  the  head  up,  ex- 
cept when  the  horse  is  feeding,  or  putting  on  a  muzzle  with 
sharp  spikes  towards  the  neck,  and  which  will  prick  him 
whenever  he  attempts  to  rein  his  head  in  for  the  purpose  of 
wind-sucking. 

CUTTING. 

Of  this  habit,  we  would  advise  the  owner  of  a  cutting 
horse,  without  trying  any  previous  experiments  of  raising 
or  lowering  the  heels,  to  put  on  the  cutting  foot  a  shoe  of 
even  thickness  from  heel  to  toe,  not  projecting  in  the  slightest 
degree  beyond  the  crust,  and  the  crust  itself  being  rasped  a 
little  at  the  quarters.  The  shoe  should  be  fastened  as 
usual,  on  the  outside,  but  with  only  one  nail  on  the  inside, 
and  that  almost  close  to  the  toe. 

NOT  LYING  DOWN, 

It  happens  that  a  horse  will  seldom  lie  down  in  the 
stable.  He  continues  in  apparent  good  health,  and  feeds 
and  works  well;  but  his  legs  swell,  and  he  becomes  fatigued 


*  STUD  BOOK.  163 

sooner  than  another  horse.  No  means,  gentle  or  cruel,  will 
force  him  to  lie  down.  The  secret  is  that  he  is  tied  up,  and 
either  has  never  dared  to  lie  down  through  fear  of  the  con- 
finement of  the  halter,  or  he  has  been  cast  in  the  night,  and 
severely  injured.  If  he  can  be  suffered  to  range  the  stable, 
or  have  a  comfortable  box,  in  which  he  may  be  loose,  he  will 
usually  lie  down  the  first  night.  Some  few  horses  will  lie 
down  in  the  stable,  and  not  in  a  loose  box.  A  fresh,  well- 
made  bed  will  generally  tempt  the  tired  horse  to  refresh 
himself  with  sleep. 

OVERREACH. 

This  unpleasant  noise,  known  also  by  the  term  "click- 
ing," arises  from  the  toe  of  the  hind  foot  knocking  against 
the  shoe  of  the  forefoot.  In  the  trot,  one  fore  leg  and  the 
opposite  hind  leg  are  first  lifted  from  the  ground  and  moved 
forward,  the  other  fore  leg  and  the  opposite  hind  leg  remain- 
ing fixed;  but,  to  keep  the  centre  of  gravity  within  the  base, 
and  as  the  stride,  or  space  passed  over  by  these  legs,  is  often 
greater  than  the  distance  between  the  fore  and  hind  feet,  it 
is  necessary  that  the  fore  feet  should  be  alternately  moved 
out  of  the  way  for  the  hind  ones  to  descend.  Then,  as  occa- 
sionally happens  with  horses  not  perfectly  broken,  and  that 
have  not  been  taught  their  paces,  and  especially  if  they  have 
high  hinder  quarters  and  low  fore  ones,  if  the  fore  feet  are 
not  raised  in  time,  the  hind  feet  will  strike  them.  The  fore 
foot  will  generally  be  caught  when  it  has  just  begun  to  be 
raised,  and  the  toe  of  the  hind  foot  will  meet  the  middle  of 
the  bottom  of  the  fore  foot.  It  is  an  unpleasant  noise,  and 
not  altogether  free  from  danger.  If  the  animal  is  young, 
the  action  of  the  horse  may  be  materially  improved;  other- 
wise nothing  can  be  done,  except  to  keep  the  toe  of  the  hind 
foot  as  short  and  as  round  as  it  can  safely  be,  and  to  bevel 
off  and  round  the  toe  of  the  shoe,  like  that  which  has  been  worn 
by  a  stumbler  for  a  fortnight,  and  perhaps,  a  little  to  lower 
the  heel  of  the  fore  foot 

PAWING. 

Some  irritable  horses  are  restless,  and  paw  frequently. 
Their  litter  is  destroyed,  the  floor  of 'the  stable  broken  up,  the 
shoes  worn  out,  the  feel  bruised,  and  the  legs  sometimes 
sprained.  Shackles  are  the  only  remedy,  with  a  chain  suffi- 
ciently long  to  enable  the  horse  to  shift  his  posture,  or  move  in 
his  stall;  but  these  must  be  taken  off  at  night,  otherwise  the 
animal  will  seldom  lie  down. 


164  THE  ORANGE  COUNTY 


QUIDDING. 

A  horse  mil  sometimes  partly  chew  his  hay,  and  suffer  it 
to  drop  from  his  mouth.  If  this  does  not  proceed  from  ir- 
regular teeth,  which  it  will  be  the  business  of  the  veterinary 
surgeon  to  rasp  down,  it  will  be  found  to  be  connected  with 
sore-throat,  and  then  the  horse  will  exhibit  some  other 
symptom  of  indisposition,  and  particularly,  the  swallowing  of 
water  will  be  accompanied  by  a  peculiar  gulping  effort.  In 
this  case,  the  (catarrh,  with  sore-throat)  must  be  attacked, 
and  the  quidding  will  cease. 

KOLUNG. 

This  cannot  be  indulged  in  the  stable  without  the  chance 
of  his  being  dangerously  entangled  with  the  collar  rein,  and 
being  cast.  Yet,  although  the  horse  is  cast,  and  bruised,  and 
half-strangled,  he  will  roll  again  on  the  following  night,  and 
continue  to  do  so  as  long  as  he  lives.  The  only  remedy  is, 
the  horse  should  be  tied  with  length  enough  of  collar  to  lie 
down,  but  not  to  allow  of  his  head  resting  on  the  ground; 
because,  in  order  to  roll  over,  a  horse  is  obliged  to  place  his 
head  quite  down  upon  the  ground. 

SHYING. 

In  the  treatment  of  shying,  it  is  of  great  importance  to 
distinguish  between  that  which  is  the  consequence  of  defec- 
tive sight,  and  what  results  from  fear,  or  newness  of  objects, 
or  mere  affectation  or  skittishness.  The  severe  use  of  the 
whip  and  spur  cannot  do  good,  and  are  likely  to  aggravate 
the  vice  tenfold.  A  word  half  encouraging  and  half  scold- 
ing, with  a  gentle  pressure  of  the  heel,  or  a  slight  touch  of 
the  spur,  will  tell  the  horse  that  there  is  nothing  to  fear,  and 
will  give  him  confidence  in  his  rider  on  a  future  occasion.  It 
should  be  remembered,  however,  that  although  a  horse  that 
shies  from  defective  sight  may  be  taught  considerable  re- 
liance on  his  rider,  he  can  never  have  the  cause  of  the  habit 
removed.  We  may  artificially  strengthen  the  human  sight, 
but  that  of  the  horse  must  be  left  to  itself.  The  shying  from 
skittishness  or  affectation  is  quite  a  different  affair,  and  must 
be  conquered;  but  how?  Severity  is  altogether  out  of  place. 
The  way  to  cure  him  is  to  go  on,  turning  as  little  as  possible 
out  of  the  road  giving  a  harsh  word  or  two,  and  a  gentle 


srtiD  BOOK.  165 

touch  with  the  spur,  and  then  taking  no  more  notice  of  the 
matter.  After  a  few  times,  whatever  may  have  been  the  ob- 
ject which  he  chose  to  select  as  the  pretended  cause  of 
affright,  be  will  pass  it  almost  without  notice. 

Shying  on  coming  out  of  the  stable  is  a  habit  that  can  rarely 
be  cured.  It  proceeds  from  the  remembrance  of  some  ill- 
usage  or  hurt  which  the  animal  has  received  in  the  act  of 
proceeding  from  the  stable,  such  as  striking  his  head  against 
a  low  doorway,  or  entangling  the  harness.  Coercion  will  but 
associate  greater  fear  and  more  determined  resistance  with 
the  old  recollection.  When  the  cure,  however,  is  early 
attempted,  it  may  be  so  far  overcome  that  it  will  be  unat- 
tended with  danger  or  difficulty.  The  horse  shall  be  bridled 
when  led  out  or  in.  He  should  be  held  short  and  tight  by 
the  head  that  he  may  feel  he  has  not  liberty  to  make  a 
leap,  and  this  of  itself  is  often  sufficient  to  restrain  him. 
Punishment,  or  a  threat  of  punishment,  will  be  highly  im- 
proper. It  is  only  timid  or  high-spirited  horses  that 
acquire  this  habit,  and  rough  usage  invariably  increases  their 
agitation  and  terror.  Some  may  be  led  out  quite  at  leisure 
when  blindfolded;  others  when  they  have  the  harness  bridle 
on;  some  will  best  take  their  own  way,  and  a  few  may  be  rid- 
den through  the  doorway  that  cannot  be  led.  By  quietness 
and  kindness,  however,  the  horse  will  be  most  easily  and 
quickly  subdued. 

SUPPING  THE  COLLAE. 

This  is  a  trick  at  which  many  horses  are  so  clever  that 
scarcely  a  night  passes  without  their  getting  loose.  It  is  a 
very  serious  habit,  for  it  enables  the  horse  sometimes  to  gorge 
himself  with  food,  to  the  imminent  danger  of  staggers;  or  it 
exposes  him,  as  he  wanders  about,  to  be  kicked  and  injured 
by  the  other  horses,  while  his  restlessness  will  often  keep  the 
whole  team  awake.  If  the  web  of  the  halter,  being  first  accu- 
rately fitted  to  his  neck,  is  suffered  to  slip  only  one  way,  or  a 
strap  is  attached  to  the  halter  and  buckled  round  the  neck, 
but  not  sufficiently  tight  to  be  of  serious  inconvenience,  the 
power  of  slipping  the  collar  will  be  taken  away. 

TRIPPING. 

If  it  arises  from  a  heavy  forehand,  and  the  fore  legs  being 
too  much  under  the  horse,  no  one  can  alter  the  natural  frame 
of  the  animal;  if  it  proceeds  from  tenderness  of  the  foot, 
grogginess,  or  old  lameness,  these  ailments  are  seldom  cured. 


166  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

A  known  stumbler  should  never  be  ridden.  A  tight  hand  or 
a  strong-bearing  rein  are  precautions  that  should  not  be  ne- 
glected, although  they  are  generally  of  little  avail;  for  the 
inveterate  stumbler  will  rarely  be  able  to  save  himself,  and 
this  tight  rein  may  sooner  and  farther  precipitate  the  rider. 
If  the  stumbler  has  the  foot  kept  as  short  and  the  toe  pared 
as  close  as  safety  will  permit,  and  the  shoe  is  rounded  at  the 
toe,  or  has  that  shape  given  to  it  which  it  naturally  acquires 
in  a  fortnight  from  the  peculiar  action  of  such  a  horse,  the 
animal  may  not  stumble  quite  so  much,  but  in  almost  every 
case  a  stumbler  should  be  put  to  slow  and  heavy  work.  If 
the  latter  alternative  is  adopted,  he  may  trip  as  much  as  he 
pleases,  for  the  weight  of  the  load  and  the  motion  of  the 
other  horses  will  keep  him  upon  his  legs. 


WEAVING. 


This  consists  in  a  motion  of  the  head,  neck,  and  ooay, 
from  side  to  side,  like  the  shuttle  of  a  weaver  passing  through 
the  web,  and  hence  the  name  which  is  given  to  this  peculiar 
and  incessant  and  unpleasant  action.  It  indicates  an  impa- 
tient, irritable  temper,  and  a  dislike  to  the  confinement  of  the 
stable.  A  horse  that  is  thus  incessantly  on  the  fret  will  sel- 
dom carry  flesh,  or  be  safe  to  ride  or  drive.  There  is  no  cure 
for  it,  but  the  close  tying-up  of  the  animal,  or  at  least  allowing 
him  but  one  loose  rein,  except  at  feeding-time. 


STUD   BOOK.  1C7 


BREAKING    TO    HARNESS. 


Mr.  Rarey  is  entitled  to  every  credit  for  introducing  a 
novel  mode  of  controlling  a  vicious  horse,  which  is  also  of 
service  in  training  cavalry  and  circus  horses.  Beyond  these 
departments,  however,  his  plans  effect  no  good,  and  instead 
of  improving  the  mouth  they  have  a  tendency  to  injure  it  I 
have  shown  that  time  and  patience  are  grand  elements  of 
success  in  horse-breaking,  and  that  it  is  a  disadvantage  to  has- 
ten the  process,  which  is  all  that  Mr.  Rarey  pretends  to  ef- 
fect "We  do  not  want  to  manage  our  horses  without  reins, 
but  on  the  contrary  to  guide  them  and  stop  them  with  the 
slightest  possible  touch  consistent  with  the  equilibrium  to 
be  maintained  in  the  saddle.  Hence  the  first  object  is  the 
formation  of  a  good  mouth,  and  as  this  requires  a  consider- 
able time  to  develop,  there  are  ample  opportunities  for  grad- 
ually accustoming  the  colt  to  the  presence  and  control  of  his 
master  while  it  is  being  produced. 

THE  EAKLY  PROCEEDINGS 

in  breaking  a  colt  to  harness  are  exactly  the  same  as  for  the 
saddle,  and  indeed  it  is  well  in  all  cases  to  make  him  handy 
to  ride  before  he  is  put  into  the  break.  We  may  therefore 
assume  that  this  has  been  done,  or  at  all  events  that  a  good 
mouth  has  been  made,  and  the  colt  handled  and  accustomed 
to  bear  the  hip-straps  hanging  loosely  over  his  sides  prior  to 
putting  him  in  harness. 

THEEE  IS  SOME   DIFFERENCE   OF   OPINION 

among  breakers  as  to  the  best  plan  of  conducting  this  oper- 
ation. Some  contend  that  for  every  kind  of  harness  the 
horse  ought  to  be  put  in  with  another,  who  will  compel  him 
to  move  or  stop  at  the  will  of  the  driver.  Others  assert  that 


168 


THE  ORANGE  COUNTY 


on  the  contrary,  every  young  horse  should  be  put  in  first  by 
himself,  and  then  if  he  refuse  to  move,  he  can  be  allowed  to 
wait  till  he  is  tired  of  inactivity,  which  practically  he  soon  is. 
My  own  opinion  is  founded  upon  more  than  twenty  years' 
experience  with  all  sorts  of  horses,  and  I  am  persuaded  that 
by  far  the  safest  and  best  method  is  to  put  every  horse  into 
double  harness  first.  Many  farmers  break  their  colts  in  by 
putting  them  to  plough  between  two  other  horses,  but  the 
pull  at  this  work  is  too  dead  for  well-bred  colts,  and  many 
jibbers  are  produced  in  this  way.  Every  high-couraged 
horse  has  a  tendency  to  jump  forward  on  the  first  impulse  to 
do  so,  and  feeling  the  restraint  of  the  collar  he  is  irritated  to 
increase  his  pull,  whereby  his  shoulders  are  galled,  causing 
him  to  dislike  his  work  from  the  pain  which  he  suffers.  It  is 
quite  possible  to  break  in  a  colt  of  average  good  temper  for 
single  harness  without  putting  him  first  into  double,  but  the 
plan  is  always  attended  with  danger  to  both  horse  and 
driver,  and  I  should  strongly  caution  my  readers  against  it. 
Even  after  two  or  three  lessons  in  the  double  break,  which 
have  been  quietly  submitted  to,  the  colt  often  turns  restive 
when  put  in  by  himself,  but  still  by  that  time  he  knows  what 
he  has  to  do,  and  is  not  made  sulky  by  being  punished  with- 
out cause. 

THE  APPARATUS 

necessary  for  breaking  to  harness  consists  of,  1st,  a  set  of 
strong  double  and  single  harness,  made  in  the  ordinary  way, 
except  that  the  crupper  for  the  colt  should  buckle  on  one 
side;  2dly,  a  double  break  of  the  ordinary  construction;  but 
it  is  a  safe  plan  to  have  the  whole  space  between  the  fore  car- 
nage and  the  splinter-bar  made  up  with  iron  rods  so  close  to- 
gether that,  if  a  horse  kicks,  he  cannot  get  his  legs  hung  over 
the  bar;  3dly,  a  single  break,  to  be  hereafter  described. 

BEFORE  THE  COLT 

is  put  to  draw  he  should  be  accustomed  to  the  pressure  of 
the  harness,  and,  as  a  matter  of  course,  in  any  case  he  must 
have  this  put  on  him.  Every  groom  ought  to  know  how  to 
do  this,  but  at  the  same  time  in  a  colt  he  should  be  cautioned 
to  proceed  slowly  and  quietly,  so  as  not  to  frighten  him. 
The  plan  of  showing  the  horse  everything  which  is  to  be  put 
on  him  is  a  very  good  one,  and  taking  advantage  of  it,  before 
the  collar  is  slipped  over  the  head,  a  little  time  may  be 
allowed  for  the  future  wearer  of  it  to  smell  it  and  examine  it 


STUD   BOOK.  169 

with  his  eyes  also.  Many  breakers,  to  avoid  the  danger  of 
alarming  their  pupils  by  putting  the  collar  over  their  heads, 
have  this  part  made  to  open  at  the  withers,  where  a  buckle 
secures  it  after  it  has  been  slipped  up  under  the  neck.  But 
collars  made  in  this  way  are  not  so  firm  as  when  constructed 
in  the  ordinary  mode,  and  are  more  liable  to  punish  the 
shoulders,  so  that  what  is  gained  in  one  way  is  lost  in  the  other. 
A  quiet  and  handy  man  can  always  slip  a  collar  over  a  horse's 
head  if  he  will  take  time,  and  especially  if  he  has  previously 
handled  the  animal  and  made  him  accustomed  to  his  pres- 
ence. As  soon  as  this  part  of  the  harness  is  in  its  place  the 
pad  and  crupper  must  be  gently  put  on  the  back,  and  then 
quietly  raising  the  tail  with  every  hair  gathered  and  firmly 
grasped  in  the  left  hand,  the  right  slips  the  crupper  under  it, 
and  as  soon  as  this  is  done,  the  left  drops  the  tail  and  assists 
the  right  to  buckle  the  two  parts  together.  In  the  previous 
breaking  the  colt  has  been  accustomed  to  the  crupper,  so 
that  there  is  no  occasion  for  extra  care  in  this  part  now. 
The  pad  is  then  drawn  forward  to  its  place,  the  bellyband 
buckled,  and  the  rest  of  the  harness  being  put  on  in  the 
ordinary  way,  the  colt  is  allowed  to  feel  it  for  a  few  minutes, 
and  should  then  be  led  out  in  a  yard  or  other  convenient  place 
for  an  hour.  The  general  practice  is  after  this  to  put  him  to  at 
once,  but  it  is  far  better  if  the  colt  is  at  all  shy  to  take  off  the  har- 
ness and  postpone  the  commencement  of  actual  breaking  till 
the  next  day. 

THE  ACTUAL  PUTTING  TO 

is  managed  differently  in  double  and  single  harness,  but  as  I 
have  endeavored  to  show  that  the  former  should  always  pre- 
cede the  latter,  I  shall  commence  by  describing  it  In 
breaking  to  double  harness  a  steady  old  horse  should  be  pro- 
vided, usually  called  a  break-horse.  All  that  is  wanted  is  an 
animal  of  good  courage  and  free  from  vice,  who  •will  draw 
steadily  off  on  the  slightest  notice,  and  will  stop  firmly  when 
required.  Some  old  horses  which  have  had  a  great  deal  of 
practice  in  the  break  will  assist  their  masters  in  a  wonderful 
manner.  If  a  colt  kicks  over  the  pole  they  will  press  against 
the  intruding  leg  and  cause  him  so  much  pain  that  he  remains 
quiet  till  he  is  relieved.  Indeed,  it  matters  not  what  the 
attempt  is,  they  defeat  it  by  some  counter  manoeuvre,  but 
these  horses  are  rare  and  fortunately  are  by  no  means  essen- 
tial to  success.  Before  attaching  the  colt  the  break-horse 
should  be  put  to,  and  it  is  usual  to  place  him  on  the  near 
side.  Then  having  the  break  conveniently  situated  for  start- 


170  THE   ORANGE  COUNTY 

ing,  the  colt  is  brought  out  with  a  halter  on  and  the  cord 
knotted  to  this  tracebearer,  so  as  to  give  a  good  hold  in  case 
he  plunges  or  kicks.  The  pole-piece  is  then  loosely  buckled 
up,  after  which  the  inside  trace  is  slipped  over  the  roller  bolt, 
and  then  the  breaksman,  pushing  the  quarters  forcibly 
inwards,  the  outside  trace  is  carefully  adjusted  and  the  pole- 
piece  buckled  up  to  its  proper  length.  Quickly  but  quietly 
and  without  fuss  the  reins  are  crossed  and  buckled,  and  the 
ends  being  taken  by  the  breaker  he  mounts  to  the  box,  gives 
the  word  to  the  break-horse  to  move,  and  the  break  is  quietly 
started  without  any  notice  to  the  colt,  or  effort  on  his  part. 
In  the  great  majority  of  instances  no  resistance  is  made,  and 
all  goes  on  smoothly  for  some  time.  The  break  should  be 
driven  slowly  for  three  or  four  miles,  and  then  the  breaksman 
who  assists  the  breaker  going  to  the  side  of  the  colt  pulls  him 
round  by  the  halter  as  the  breaker  drives  the  break-horse  in 
a  wide  circle  for  turning.  In  returning  the  horses  should  be 
stopped  and  started  again  several  times,  and  if  the  colt  is 
pretty  handy  the  turning  may  be  repeated  once  or  twice,  but 
more  than  an  hour's  drive  should  not  be  attempted  for  fear 
of  galling  the  shoulders,  to  prevent  which  the  inside  of  the 
collar  should  be  well  oiled  on  all  occasions  just  before  start- 
ing. When  taking  the  young  horse  out,  the  process  of  put- 
ting to  should  be  exactly  reversed.  A  repetition  of  this 
lesson,  and  constant  turning  into  narrow  lanes  and  crowded 
streets,  together  with  uphill  and  downhill  work,  will  soon 
make  the  young  horse  handy  in  double  harness,  though  for 
town  work  a  considerable  time  must  elapse  before  he  can  be 
depended  upon  in  a  crush,  especially  without  a  steady  com- 
panion. No  horse  should  be  depended  upon  until  he  has  been 
roused  either  by  accidental  circumstances,  or,  if  these  do  not 
present  themselves,  by  an  application  of  the  whip,  for  it  often 
happens  that  a  colt  will  go  quietly  enough  while  his  temper 
is  unruffled,  but  when  it  is  once  upset  he  shows  fight  until  he 
is  conquered  or  himself  gains  the  victory,  Now  it  is  far  bet- 
ter that  this  should  occur  while  in  the  hands  of  the  breaker 
than  after  he  is  sent  home  as  thoroughly  perfect  in  harness. 
When  the  colt  has  had  six  lessons  in  double  harness,  he 
may  be  put  in  the  shafts.  The  single-break  is  a  strong  two- 
wheeled  vehicle,  with  straight  tough  shafts.  It  should  be 
high  enough  to  keep  the  horse  from  kicking  over  the  draw- 
ing bar.  No  bearing-rein  should  be  employed;  and  the  tugs 
should  be  made  open  above,  so  as  to  drop  the  shafts  into 
them.  A  kicking-strap  and  safety-rein  should  be  used,  for 
fear  of  accidents.  Beyond  these  expedients,  nothing  more  is 
required  than  time  and  practice. 


STUD  BOOK.  171 


Bonner's  Great  Stables  in  December  1879. 

We  here  give  a  reliable  list  of  the  great  editor's  fast  horses — by  all 
odds  the  greatest  collection  of  fast  trotters  that  the  world  has  ever 
known.     There   are  now  in  his  stable,  West  Fifty-fifth  street,  near 
Fifth  avenue,  ten  horses,  every  one  of  which,  with  a  single  exception, 
has  trotted  in  2.20,  or  better.     The  exception  is  Mamie  B,  by  Edward 
Everett,  dam  St.  Lawrence  Maid.     She  is  a  diminutive  specimen  of 
horseflesh,  standing  about  14.1.     Edwin  Forrest  towers  above  the  lit- 
tle mare.     He  is  a  fraction  over  16  hands.     He  is  seven  years  old,  and 
was  got  by  a  son  of  Joe  Downing,  the  son  of  Alexander's  Edwin  Forrest; 
his  dam  was  a  high-bred  mare,  said  to  be  a  granddaughter  of  the  great 
Leviathan    At  Hartford,  Forrest  trotted  an  exhibition  mile  hi  2:14 1-2, 
and   in  the  repeat  went  to  the  half-mile  pole  hi  1 :05  1-4,  where  no 
other  horse  has  yet  gone  in  a  race.      Dexter,  by  Rysdyk's  Hamble- 
tonian,  dam  by  American  Star,  is  twenty  years  old.     He  attracts,  if 
possible,  more  attention  in  Mr.  Bonner's  stable  than  Edwin  Forrest. 
He  was  the  first  horse  to  trot  in  2-17  1-4,  his  present  record.     In  his 
race  against  Ethan  Allen  and  running  mate  he  was  timed  a  mile  in 
2:16.     At  Prospect  Park,  Mr.  Bonner  drove  Dexter  to  road  wagon, 
weight  319  Ibs.,  a  mile  in  2:21  3-4,  a  performance  which  has  never 
been  equaled.     Music  is  a  very  bloodlike-looking  mare,  a  chestnut, 
standing  full  16  hands.     She  is  eleven  years  old,  and  was  got  by  Mid- 
dletown,  by  Rysdyk's  Harnbletonian,  dam  by  Roe's  Fiddler,  a  grand- 
son of  Monmouth  Eclipse.     She  is  an  excellent  double-harness  per- 
lormer.  and  is  hard  to  beat  single.     John  Taylor,  9  years  old,  and 
pedigree  not  established,  is  as  fine  in  all  his  points  as  a  thoroughbred. 
He  gained  a  public  record  of  2:25  his  first  season  on  the  turf,  but  has 
trotted  a  mile  on  Mr.  Bonner's  three-quarter  track  in  2:18  3-4.  Startle, 
bred  at  Stony  Ford,  11  years  old,  and  by  Rysdyk's  Hambletonian, 
dam  by  American  Star,  is  the  biggest  horse  for  his  inches  in  the  coun- 
try.    He  is  15.1,  under  the  standard.     Startle  trotted  half  a  mile  in 
1:041-2,  in  harness,  and  pulled  a  road- wagon  at  Fleetwood  a  quarter 
in  32  1-2  seconds — a  2:10  gait.     The  stallion  was  then  put  into  the 
stud,  and  his  three-year-old  colts  are  quite  promising.     Molsey,  a  bay 
mare,  by  Whiteside's  Black  Hawk,  first  dam  by  Dallas,  and  second 
dam  by  imp.   Leviathan,  is  scant  15.2.     She  has  a  speedy  form,  and 
obtained  a  record  of  2:21  3-4.     She  has  since  been  timed  a  mile  on  the 
three  quarter  track  in  2:18  1-4.     Malice,  8  years  old,  bred  at  Wood- 
burn,  and    by  Woodford  Mambrino,  out  of   Malmaison,  by  Alexan- 
der's Abdallah,  the  sire  of  Goldsmith  Maid  is  a  nervy,  up-headed  bay 


172  THE  ORANGE  COUNTY  STUD  BOOK. 

mare,  15.2.  As  a  six-year-old,  she  showed  a  mile  in  2:29  1-2  on  Mr. 
Alexander's  track;  as  a  seven-year-old,  a  mile  in  2:253-4,  and  as  an 
eight-year-old,  she  trotted  a  mile  on  Mr.  Bonner's  track  in  2:20.  May 
Bird,  by  George  Wilkes,  by  Rysdyk's  Hambletonian,  is  a  black  or 
brown  mare,  with  three  white  feet,  15.1  1-4  over  the  withers  and  15.1 
over  the  rump.  She  has  won  close  on  to  seventy  heats  in  2:30  or  bet- 
ter, and  gained  a  record  of  2:193-4  to  saddle,  2:21  in  harness,  and 
2:24  1-2  to  wagon.  She  has  trotted  a  mile  on  Mr.  Bonner's  track  in 
2:18  3-4.  Maud  Macey,  a  chestnut  mare,  7  years  old,  was  bred  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  got  by  Joe  Hooker,  by  Mambrino  Chief,  first  dam  by  Star 
Denmark,  and  second  dam  by  Camden.  She  stands  15.2,  and  has  a 
rakish  form.  As  a  two-year-old,  she  trotted  in  2:49 ;  as  a  three-year- 
old,  in  2:44  ;  as  a  four-year-old,  in  2:31 ;  as  a  five-year-old,  in  2:27  3-4; 
as  a  six-year-old,  in  2:23  1-4,  and  as  a  seven-year-old  she  pulkd 
a  sulky  and  a  driver  weighing  180  Ibs.  a  mile  on  Mr.  Bonner's  three- 
quarter  track,  in  2:17,  the  fastest  time  ever  made  on  it.  Her  fastest 
mile  was  trotted  Oct.  16,  and  the  fractional  tune  was:  34  1-2,  1:07  3-4, 
1:421-4,2:17.  * 


In  addition  to  the  ten  2:20  horses  above  named,  Mr.  Bonner  has,  at 
his  farm,  Pocahontas,  who  has  trotted  in  2:17  3-4;  Grafton,  who 
showed  a  public  trial  at  Cleveland,  in  2:15  1-2;  Joe  Elliott,  with  a  public 
trial  at  Boston,  in  2:15  1-2  ;  Wellesley  Boy,  who  has  trotted  in  2:19  1-2  ; 
Eric,  who  has  trotted  in  2:20  3-4;  Manetta,  who  has  been  timed  in 
2:22  1-2;  Astoria,  the  sister  of  Dexter,  who  has  gone  a  mile  in  2:233-4; 
Centennial,  who  has  trotted  in  2:23  3-4;  and  Keene  Jim,  with  a 
four-year-old  record  of  2:24  1-2.  We  may  wind  up  this  list  with 
Rarus — though  last  not  (only)  least — but  probably  the  first  trotter  in 
the  world.  He  has  actuaUy  trotted  his  mile  in  2:11  1-2  ! 


2.30    HORSES. 

BY  AJAX. 


Goldsmith  Maid,  by  Alexander's  Abdallah,  dam  by  Abdallah 2 :17 

Dexter,  by  Hambletonian,  dam  by  American  Star 2 :17  1-4 

Lady  Thome,  by  Mambrino  Chief,  dam  by  Gano,  by  American  Eclipse  .  2 :18  1-4 

American  Girl,  by  Amos'  Clay,  dam  said  to  be  thoroughbred 2 :19 

George  Palmer,  by  the  Bogus  horse, dam  a  Clay  mare 2:19  1-4 

Flora  Temple,  by  One- Eyed  Hunter 2:19  3-4 

Henry,  by  Magna  Charta 2:20  1-4 

Mountain  Boy,  by  Edward  Everett,  dam  by  Roebuck 2 :20  1-2 

General  Butler,  by  Smith  Burr,  by  Napoleon 2:21 

Rolla  Golddust,  by  Golddust.to  saddle  2:21 

George  Wilkes,  by  Hambletonian 2 :22 

Princess,  by  Michael  Beaker 2:22 

Jay  Gould,  by  Hambletonian,  dam  by  American  Star 2 :22 

Bockingham,  to  saddle 2:22  1-4 

Lucy,  by  G.  M.  Patchen,  dam  May  Day 2:22  1-2 

G.  M.  Patchen,  by  C.  M.  Clay,  dam  by  Trustee 2 :22  1-2 

Fearnaught,  by  Young  Morriil 2:23  1-4 

Bashaw,  Jr.,  by  Green's  Bashaw 2 :23  1-2 

Rhode  Island,  by  Whitehall,  by  North  American 2:23  1-2 

Hotspur,  by  Ethan  Allen,  dam  by  Abdallah 2 :23  1-2 

Billy  Barr  (formerly  W.  B.  Whiteman),  by  Ethan  Allen 2 :23  3-4 

Kirkwood,  by  Green's  Bashaw 2 :24 

Draco  Prince,  by  Draco,  dam  Vermont  Black  Hawk 2:24 

Ch.  Medoc  (formerly  John  Morgan),  by  Pilot,  dam  by  Medoc 2 :24 

Beppo.by  Hambletonian,  dam  by  Abdallah 2:24  1-2 

Chicago  (formerly  Rocky),  by  Ole   Bull,  by  Pilot,  dam   by  American 

Eclipse 2:24 

Toronto  Chief,  by  Royal  George 2 :24  1-4 

Major  Allen  (formerly  Locust),  by  Young  Ethan  Allen 2 :24  1-^ 

California  Damsel,  by  son  of  Long  Island  Black  Hawk 2 :24  1-2 

Prince  Hartford,  by  Nonpareil,  son  of  Long  Island  Black  Hawk 2 :24  1-2 

Pilot  Temple,  by  Pilot,  Jr.,  dam  by  Flora  Temple's  dam 2 :24  1-2 

Myron  Perry,  by  Young  Columbus,  dam  by  Hopkins'  Abdallah 2 :24  1-2 

Green  Mountain  Maid,  by  Harris'  Hambletonian 2 :24  3-i 

Silas  Rich,  by  Young  Priam 2 :24  3-4 

Clara  G.,  to  saddle 2:25 

G.  M.  Patchen,  Jr.  (California  Patchen),  by  G.  M.  Patchen,  dam  Bell- 
founder  mare 2  ;25 


174  THE  ORANGE  COUNTY 


W.  H.  Allen,  by  Volunteer,  dam  by  Abdallah 2 :25 

Mac 2 :25 

Commodore  Vanderbilt,  by  Young  Columbus 2 :25 

Frank  Vernon  (formerly    Panic),  by  Sherman's   Black    Hawk  (North 

Horse),  dam  Vermont  Hambletonian 2 :25 

Ethan  Allen,  by  Hill's  Black  Hawk : 2 :25 

Yellow  Jacket 2 :25 

Lancet,  by  Vermont  Black  Hawk,  to  saddle 2:25 

Brown  Dick,  by  2d  Star 2 :25  1-4 

Gray  Eagle  (thoroughbred),  by  Gray  Eagle,  dam  by  imp.  Trustee 2 :25  1-2 

Fannie  Allen,  by  Ethan  Allen,  dam  Cherub,  by  Abdallah 2 :25  1-2 

Gray  Mack,  by  son  of  Hill's  Black  Hawk 2 :25  1-2 

Centreville,  by  Henry  Clay 2 :25  1-2 

Tacony,  by  Sportsman 2 :25  1-2 

Nonesuch,  by  Daniel  Lambert,  by  Ethan  Allen,  dam  by  son  of  Vermont 

Black  Hawk 2 :25  1-2 

Judge  Fullerton,  by  Edward  Everett 2 :25  1-4 

Tom  Jefferson,  by  Toronto  Chief,  dam  by  Wagner 2 :25  1-2 

Charles  E.  Loew,  by  G.  M.  Patchen,  dam  by  Abdallah 2 :25  1-2 

J.  J.  Bradley , .  2 :25  1-2 

Byron,  by  Field's  Royal  George,  dam  by  Morgan 2 :25  1-2 

Harry  Harly,  (formerly  Columbia  Chief,)  by  Young  Columbus,  dam  by 

Harris'  Hambletonian 2 :25  3-4 

Jeff  Davis 2 :25  3-4 

Colonel  Russell 2 :25  3-4 

License 2 :25  3-4 

Belle  Strickland,  by  Eaton  Horse 2 :26 

Billy  Haskins,  by  Ed.  Forest,  dam  Pilot,  Jr 2:26 

Belle  of  Portland 2 :26 

Tattler,  by  Pilot,  Jr.,  dam  by  Medoc 2 :26 

Tackey,  by  Pilot,  Jr 2 :26 

W.  K.  Thomas,  by  Osceola,  by  son  of  Pilot 2 :26 

May  Queen,  by  May  Day , . .  2 :26 

Confidence 2 :26 

Huntress,  by  Volunteer,  dam  by  American  Star 2 :26 

Triumph,  (formerly  Joe) 2:25  1-4 

Ben  Cumming,  by  Columbus,  dam  Mambrino 2 :26 

H.  W.  Genet,  by  son  of  G.  M.  Patchen 2:26 

Lady  Suffolk,  by  Engineer 2 :26 

Surprise,  by  Harry  Clay 2 :26 

Cooly,  by  Daniel  Boone  (a  pacer) 2:26 

Leviathan,  to  saddle 2 :26 

Sleepy  John 2:26  1-4 

Bay  Whalebone 2:26  1-4 

Lady  Emma,  by  Jupiter,  dam  by  Abdallah 2:26  1-4 

Royal  John,  by  Woodstock  Morrill 2:26  1-4 

Queen  of  the  West,  by  Pilot,  Jr 2:26  1-4 

Stockbridge  Chief 2:26  1-2 

Black  Mack 2. -26  1-2 

Matthew  Smith 2:26  1-2 

Mohawk,  Jr. ,  by  Mohawk,  by  Long  Island  Black  Hawk 2 :26  1-2 

Susie,  by  Hampden  Boy,  grandsire  Vermont  Black  Hawk 2 :26  1-2 

Little  Fred,  dam  Dirigo,  by  Drew 2 :26  3-4 

Pocahontas,  by  Ethan  Allen,  dam  Pocahontas,  the  pacer 2 :26  3-4 

Sea  Foam,  by  Young  Columbus 2 :26  3-4 

Gilbraith  Knox,  by  General  Knox,  he  by  North  Horse 2 :26  3-4 

Clara  (late  Crazy  Jane),  by  Sager  Horse 2 :27 

Idol,  by  Black  Warrior 2 :27 

Highland  Maid  by  Saltram 2:27 

Western  Girl  (formerly  Angeline),  by  son  of  Bellfounder 2 :27 

Lookout 2 :27 

Sir  Walter 2:27 

Lottery,  by  Hambletonian 2 :27 

Aggy  Down,  to  saddle 2 :27 

General  Taylor,  to  saddle 2 :27 

Sorrel  Dan,  by  Magna  Charta 2 :27 

Lady  Woodruff,  by  Washington 2 :27 

Tammany,  by  Son  of  Rising  Sun 2 :27 

Ben  Higdon,  by  Abdallah 2 :27 

Uncle  Abe,  by  Young  Morrill , 2:27 


STUD   BOOK.  175 


,  by  Commodore,  dam  by  Hill's  Black  Hawk 2 :27 

Piinc  \  ch.,  by  Jupiter  Abdallah,  dam  by  Trustee 2 :27 

Lady  Mac,  to  saddle,  (Hambletonlan) 2:27 

North  Star  Mambrino,  by  Mambrlno  Chief 2:27  1-4 

Star  of  the  West 2:27  1-4 

Lydia  Thompson,  by  Wild  Wagoner,  by  G.  M.  Patchen 2 :27  1-2 

Draco,  by  Young  Morrill 2:27  1-2 

Eapid,  by  Toronto  Chief,  to  saddle 2 :27  1-2 

Chicago  Jack,  by  Merrick  Horse,  to  saddle 2:27  1-2 

Clarence , 2:27  1-2 

Commodore  Nutt,  by  Grantham  Chief,  by  Boyal  George 2 :27  1-2 

Mollie,  Delphi's  dam,  by  Abd-el-Kader 2:27  1-2 

Black  Douglass,  by  Henry  Clay 2:27  1-2 

Ed  White 2:27  1-2 

Dreadnaught 2:27  1-2 

Mambrino  Pilot,  by  Mambrino  Chief,  dam  by  Pilot,  to  saddle 2 :27  1-2 

Traveler 2:27  1-2 

Sleepy  John,  dam  by  Red  Bird 2:27  1-2 

Shark,  by  Hambletonian,  dam  the  grandam  of  Dexter,  to  saddle 2 :27  3-4 

Shep.  Knap,  Jr.,  by  Shep.  Knap,  he  by  Eaton  Horse 2 :27  3-4 

Jessie  Wales,  by  AJax,  doube 2:27  3-4 

Darkness,  by  Mambrino  Chief,  grandam  by  Pilot,  double 2 :27  3-4 

James  H.  Burke  (late  Govenor  Morgan) 2:27  3-4 

Belle  of  Saratogo,  by  Vermont  Black  Hawk 2 :28 

Auburn  Horse,  by  Champion 2 :28 

Fannie  Lee,  by  Ethan  Allen,  dam  by  Sherman's  Black  Hawk 2 :28 

Black  Harry  Clay,  by  Heaves'  C.  M.  Clay,  Jr.,  dam  by  imp.  Bellfounder  2 :28 

Blackbird 2:28 

Dutchess: 2:28 

Pelham 2 :28 

Rocket 2:28 

Young  Wofnl 2 :28 

Independence 2 :28 

J.  M.  Botts,  by  Spaldlng's  Abdallah 2-28 

jilt :..:..::..... 2*8 

Blonde,  by  Hoagland's  Messenger,  dam  by  Abdallah 2 :28 

Dutchman,  a  second  mile  to  saddle 2 :28 

Mohawk,  Jr.,  by  son  of  Long  Island  Black  Hawk 2:28 

Lady  Shannon,  by  Harris'  Hambletonian 2:28 

Tartar,  by  Royal  George 2 :28 

Grey  Jack,  of  Morgan  blood 2:28  1-4 

Miller's  Damsel,  by  Andrew  Jackson 2 :28  1-4 

Twang,  by  Hiatoga,  dam  by  Am.  Eclipse 2 :28  1-4 

Strideaway 2:28  1-2 

Charlie  Green,  by  son  of  Abdallah 2 :28  1-2 

Lady  Garfleld 2:28  1-2 

Rattler 2:28  1-2 

Jim  Porter 2 :28  1-2 

Lady  Shannon 2 :28  1-2 

Mary,  by  G.  M.  Patchen 2 :28 

B.  Gen.  McClellan,  by  Drew 2:28  1-2 

Lady  Vernon 2 :28  1-2 

Blackstone  Belle,  by  Brandywine,  he  by  Abdallah 2 :28  1-2 

Young  Columbus,  by  Columbus,  dam  Black  Maria,  grandam  of  Harris' 

Hambletonian 2 :28  1-2 

Medoc ; 2:28  1-2 

LewSayers 2:28  3-4 

Jas.  D.  McMann 2:28  3-4 

Morrissy,  by  Black  Warrior 2 :28  3-4 

Fannie  Kemble 2 :28  3-4 

Lady  Sheridan. 2:28  3-4 

Grey  Hawk 2 :28  3-4 

Dutchman  (formerly  Derby),  by  Rqugh  and  Ready 2:28  3-4 

Joe  Hooker,  Jr.,  by  Tom  Hyer,  a  Black  Hawk 2 :28  3-4 

Drift  (formerly  Norwood),  by  Hambletonian,  dam  by  Saltram 2 :29 

Lew  Pettee,  by  Norman 2 :29 

Widow  McCree,  by  American  Star 2 :29 

Western  New  York,  by  Nonpareil  (son  of  Long  Island  Black  Hawk), 

dam  by  Rysdyk's  Hambletonian 2 :29 

H.  B.  Patchen,  by  G.  M.  Patchen 2:29 


176  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 


Red  Cloud 2  29 

Woful,  by  Long  Island  Black  Hawk 2  29 

Medoc,  Wh 2:29 

Tom  Parker ; 2 :29 

Bally  Lewis,  by  Pilot,  Jr 2 :29 

Miller's  Damsel,  by  Edmond's  Jackson,  son  of  Andrew  Jackson 2 :29 

Reindeer,  by  Monmouth  Eclipse 2 :29 

Zac  Taylor,  by  Quimby  Horse 2 :29 

Honest  Allen,  by  Ethan  Allen,  double 2 :29 

Draco,  by  Young  Morrill 2 :29 

Lady  Sherman,  by  North  Horse 2:29 

Contraband,  dam  by  Thoroughbred 2 :29 

Old  Man's  Mare,  by  Young  Andrew  Jackson 2:29 

Nelly  Holcomb 2:29 

Ella  Elwood 2 :29 

N.  B.  Palmer 2 :29 

Putnam 2 :29 

Fleetwood 2 :29 

Rosamond,  by  Columbus 2 :29 

Tib  Woodward 2:29 

Major  Edsall,  by  Alexander's  Abdallah,  dam  by  American  Star 2 :29 

Up  and  Up 2 :29 

Grit 2 :29 

Nabocklish,  by  Rising  Sun 2;29 

Pilot,  by  Pilot,  Jr 2 :29  1-4 

Ed  Foster,  by  Young  St.  Lawrence 2 :29  1-4 

Fanny  Lee,  by  Ethan  Allen,  dam  by  the  North  Horse 2 :29  1-4 

Lexington,  by  Lexington 2 :29  1-4 


Edna 2  :29 

Bally  Lewis,  by  American  Star 2 :29 

Fearless,  by  Meeker  Horse 2 :29 

Bruno,  by  Hambletonian 2 :29 

Harvest  Queen,  by  Hambletonian,  dam  by  American  Star 2 :29 


New  Berlin  Girl 2:29  1-2 

India  Rubber,  by  Comet 2 :29  1-2 

Jake  Oakley,  by  Long  Island  Black  Hawk 2 :29  1-2 

"Warwick,  by  Ethan  Allen,  dam  Rachel 2 :29  1-2 

Dutch  Girl,  by  Grey  Eagle 2 :29  1-2 

Madawska  Maid 2 :29  1-2 

John  Fero,  by  imp.  Consternation 2 :29  1-2 

Daisy  Burns,  by  Skenado 2:29  3-4 

Mountain  Maid,  by  Morrill 2 :29  3-4 

Safe 2:29  3-4 

Lady  Ross,  by  Vergenes'  Black  Hawk,  dam  a  Clay  mare,  grandam  a 

Star  mare 2:29  3-4 

Lady  Hughes,  by  Jupiter,  dam  by  Weber's  Tom  Thumb 2 :30 

Lady  Moscow 2 :30 

Old  Put,  by  Clarion 2 :30 

Lady  Sutton,  by  Morgan  Eagle 2 :30 

Lady  Augusta,  by  Hambletonian,  dam  by  Sal  tram 2 :30 

Lady  Vernon 2 :30 

Lady  Jane 2 :30 

Bashaw  Maid,  by  Plow  Boy,  by  Long  Island  Black  Hawk 2 :30 

Rose  of  Washingson,  by  Smith  Burr's  Washington,  saddle 2 :30 

Empress 2:30 

W.  H.  Taylor,  by  Norman 2  :30 

Norman 2 :30 

Young  Ripton 2 :30 

Black  Ralph,  by  Vermont  Black  Hawk 2 :30 

Black  Harry,  double 2 :30 

Emperor 2 :30 

India  Rubber,  Comet. . :  2  :30 

Centreville,  by  Henry  Clay,  dam  by  Mambrino 2 :30 

Uxbridge 2 :30 

Copper  Bottom 2 :30 

Miller's  Maid 2 :30 

Tarquin 2 :30 

Tom  Parker 2 :30 

Western  Metropolis 2 :30 

Fanny  Pullen 2 :30 


STUD   BOOK,  177 


iong  Island . .  2 :30 

Ike  Cook,  by  Abdallah 2 :30 

Joe  Hooker 2 :30 

Silas 2  :30 

Whitebird,  by  Whitebird,  a  thoroughbred 2:30 

Mazeppa 2  :30 

St.  Elmo,  by  Alexander's  Abdallah 2 :30 

Jack  Rossiter 2  :30 

Strathmore 2 :30 

Sunnyside 2 :30 

Carrol  (by  Cardinal),  by  Vermont  Black  Hawk 2 :30 

Champagne,  by  Ed  Forrest 2 :30 

Dan  Mace 2 :30 

General  McClennan,  by  Drew 2 :30 

Washington  Irving,  by  Ethan  Allen,  to  saddle 2 :30 

Belle  of  Toronto,  by  Royal  George 2 :30 

Denmark 2  :30 

Jack  Stewart,  by  Tom  Wonder,  dam  by  Harris'  Hambletonian 2 :30 

Lady  Hamilton 2  :30 

Purity,  by  Blue  Bull,  dam  by  Daniel  Boone 2 :30 

Western 2 :30 


178  THE   CHANGE   COUNTY 

A  List  of  the  Medicines  and.  Recipes  Used  in  the 
Treatment  of  the  Diseases  of  the  Horse. 

VINEGAR.— Useful  for  sprains  and  bruises.  Equal  parts  boiling  water  and  cold 
vinegar. 

SPIRIT  OF  SALT.— This  acid  is  formed  by  the  action  of  sulphuric  acid  on  common 
salt.  The  best  liquid  caustic  for  corns,  canker,  indisposition  in  the  sole  to  secrete 
good  horn,  wounds  in  the  foot  not  attended  by  healthy  action. 

NITRIC  ACID,  a  valuable  external  application,  both  a  caustic  and  an  anti-septic. 
Destroys  fungus  excrescences. 

SULPHURIC  ACID,  OK  OIL  OF  VITRIOL. — When  mixed  with  tar,  an  ounce  to  the 
pound,  it  is  a  good  application  for  the  thrush  and  canker.  A  smaller  quantity, 
mixed  with  olive  oil,  makes  a,good  stimulating  liniment. 

ALOES. — The  Barbadoes  aloes  have  a  greater  purgative  power  than  the  Cape, 
gripe  less  and  being  safer,  action  is  kept  up  longer. 

ALUM  is  used  internally  in  cases  of  over-purging — two  drachms  of  the  powder 
being  added  to  a  pint  of  hot  milk.  A  solution  of  two  drachms  to  a  pint  of  water, 
forms  alone,  or  with  the  addition  of  a  small  quantity  of  white  vitriol,  a  very  useful 
wash  for  cracked  heels,  and  for  grease  generally ;  and  also  for  those  forms  of 
swelled  legs  attended  with  exudation  of  moisture  through  the  skin. 

ANODYNES. — Opium  is  the  only  drug  that  will  lull  pain.  It  may  be  given  as  an 
anodyne,  but  it  will  also  be  an  astringent  in  doses  of  1,  2,  or  3  drachms. 

CAMPHOR  diminishes  frequency  of  pulse,  and  softens  its  tone.  When  long  exhib- 
ited, it  acts  on  the  kidneys.  Externally  applied,  it  is  an  anodyne  for  chronic 
sprains,  bruises,  and  tumors 

SPANISH  FLIES  a?o  the  basis  of  the  most  approved  and  useful  veterinary  blisters. 
An  infusion  of  two  ounces  of  the  flies  in  a  pint  of  oil  of  turpentine  for  several  days, 
is  occasionally  used  as  a  liquid  blister ;  and  when  sufficiently  lowered  with  com- 
mon oil,  it  is  called  a  sweating  oil.  They  have  been  recommended  for  the  cure  of 
glanders.  The  dose  is  from  5  to  8  grains  given  daily,  but  withheld  for  a  day  or 
two  when  diuresis  supervenes. 

GUINEA  PEPPER.— They  are  valuable  as  stimulants.  Their  beneficial  effect  in 
cases  of  cold  is  great.  The  dose  is  from  a  scruple  to  half  a  drachm. 

CARAWAY  SEEDS. — These  and  ginger,  alone  and  combined,  are  the  best  stimu- 
lants used  in  horse  practice. 

CASTOR  OIL  is  an  expensive  medicine.    It  must  be  given  in  large  doses. 

JAPAN  EARTH  is  a  useful  astringent,  given  in  over-purging,  in  dosea  of  1  or  2 
drachms,  with  opium. 

CHARCOAL  is  an  anti-septic,  made  into  a  poultice  with  linseed  meal,  and  applied 
to  offensive  ulcers  and  cracked  heels. 

VERDIGRIS  is  a  mild  caustic.  Either  alone,  in  the  form  of  fine  powder,  or  mixed 
with  an  equal  quantity  of  the  sugar  of  lead,  it  eats  down  proud  flesh,  or  stimulates 
old  ulcers  to  healthy  action.  When  boiled  with  honey  and  vinegar,  it  constitutes 
the  farrier's  Egypti'acum,  certainly  of  benefi*  iu  cankered  or  ulcerated  mouth,  for 
thrushes. 

BLUE  VITRIOL  is  valuable  as  an  external  application,  dissolved  in  water,  propor- 
tion of  2  drachms  to  a  pint;  acting  as  a  gentle  stimulant.  An  ounce  dissolved  in 
the  same  quantity  of  water,  becomes  a  mild  caustic.  In  the  former  proportion  it 
rouses  old  ulcers  to  a  healthy  action,  and  disposes  even  recent  wounds  to  heal  more 
quickly  than  they  otherwise  would  do  ;  and  in  the  latter  it  removes  fungus  gran- 
ulations or  proud  flesh.  It  is  also  a  good  application  for  canker  in  the  foot. 

CREOSOTE  is  much  valued  on  account  of  ts  anti-septic  properties  and  in  stopping 
hermorrhages.  It  is  both  a  stimulant  and  a  tonic.  In  an  undiluted  state  it  acts  as 
a  caustic.  In  the  form  of  a  lotion,  a  liniment,  or  an  ointment,  it  has  been  useful  in 
farcy  and  glanders,  also  in  foot-rot,  canker,  and  thrush.  As  a  caustic,  it  acts  as  a 
powerful  stimulant. 

DIGITALIS— FOXGLOVE.— The  leaves  of  the  common  foxglove,  gathered  about  the 
flowering  time,  dried  carefully  in  a  dark  place,  and  powdered,  and  kept  in  a  close, 
black  bottle.  It  is  a  direct  and  powerful  sedative,  diminishing  the  frequency  of 
the  pulse,  and  the  general  irritability  of  the  system,  and  acting  also  as  a  mild 
diuretic:  it  is,  therefore,  useful  in  every  inflammatory  and  febrile  complaint, 
and  particularly  in  inflammation  of  the  chest.  It  is  usually  given  in  combination 
with  emetic  tartar  and  nitre.  The  average  dose  is  1  drachm  of  digitalis,  1 1-2  of 
emetic  tartar,  and  3  of  nitre,  repeated  twice  or  thrice  in  a  day. 

DIURETICS  constitute  a  useful  class  of  medicines.  They  stimulate  the  kidneys 
to  secrete  more  thau  the  usual  quantity  of  urine,  or  to  separate  M  greater  than  or- 
dinary proportion  of  the  watery  :>arts  of  the  blood;  but  they  should  be  mild,  and 
not  continued  longer  than  the  case  requires. 

GENTIAN  is  a  stomachic  and  tonic.  4  drachms  of  gentian,  2  of  camomile,  1  of  car- 
bonate of  iron,  and  1  of  ginger,  will  make  an  excellent  tonic  ball.  An  infusion  of 
gentian  is  good  for  putrid  ulcer?, 


STUD  BOOK.  179 

GINGER  is  as  valuable  as  a  cordial  as  gentian  is  as  a  tonic.  It  is  the  basis  of 
the  cordial  ball,  and  it  is  indispensable  in  the  tonic  ball. 

HELEBORE  (BLACK). — Used  as  a  local  application,  and  as  such  it  is  a  powerful 
stimulant. 

INJECTIONS.— See  clysters. 

IODINE.— One  of  the  most  valuable  drugs  used  in  the  veterinary  practice.  It  re- 
duces every  species  of  tumors.  Iodine  of  potassium  is  administered  internally,  as 
a  promoter  of  absorption.  Combined  with  sulphate  of  copper,  it  forms  a  powerful 
tonic ;  whilst  in  the  form  of  iodine  of  mercury,  combined  with  lard,  it  becomes  a 
powerful  blister,  and  promotes  absorption. 

CHLORIDE  OF  LIME.— Diluted  with  twenty  times  its  quantity  of  water,  helps  to 
form  the  poultice  applied  to  offensive  discharges.  The  fffitid  smell  of  fistulons 
withers,  poll-evil,  canker,  and  ill-conditioned  wounds,  is  immediately  removed, 
and  the  ulcers  are  more  disposed  to  heal. 

LINSEED  is  often  used  instead  of  water  for  the  drink  of  the  horse  with  sore 
throat  or  catarrh,  or  disease  of  the  urinary  organs,  or  of  the  bowels. 

MASHES. — An  important  part  of  horse  provender,  in  sickness  or  health. 

MUSTARD  SINAFIS. — Useful  if,  in  inflammation  of  the  chest  or  bowels,  it  is  well 
rubbed  on  the  chest  or  abdomen. 

NITROUS  ETHER  (SPIRIT  of).— Very  useful  medicine  in  the  advanced  stages  of 
fever. 

OPIUM. — Is  a  valuable  drupe ;  a  powerful  anti-spasmodic,  sedative,  and  artringent. 

PALM  OIL  is  the  very  best  substance  that  can  be  used  for  making  mashes  and 
balls. 

PITCH.— Plaster  for  sand-crack  consists  of  1  pound  of  pitch  and  an  ounce  cf  yel- 
low beeswax  melted  together. 

NITRATE  OF  POTASH  (NITRE)  is  a  valuable  cooling  medicine  and  a  mild  diuretic. 
Should  enter  into  composition  of  every  fever  ball  Dose  is  from  2  to  4  drachms. 

POULTICES.— Linseed  meal  forms  the  best  general  poultice.  It  longest  retains 
the  moisture. 

SEDATIVES  are  medicines  that  subdue  irritation,  repress  spasmodic  action,  or 
deaden  pain.  Digitalis,  hellebore,  opium,  turpentine,  are  medicines  of  this  kind. 

SULPHUR. — An  excellent  alterative,  combined  usually  with  antimony  and  nitre, 
and  particularly  for  mange,  surfeit,  grease,  hide-bound,  or  want  of  condition ;  and 
it  is  a  useful  ingredient  in  the  cough  and  fever  ball. 

TAR,  melted  with  and  equal  quantity  of  grease,  forms  a  good  stopping  of  tho 
farrier.  But  its  principal  virtue  seems  to  consist  in  preventing  the  penetration  of 
dirt  and  water  to  the  wounded  part ;  used  with  the  usual  cough  medicine,  in  doses 
of  2  or  3  drachms  for  chronic  cough. 

TURPENTINE  is  one  of  the  best  diuretics,  in  doses  of  half  an  ounce,  and  made 
into  a  ball  with  linseed  meal  and  powdered  ginger.  The  oil  of  turpentine  is  an 
excellent  anti-spasmodic.  For  the  removal  of  colic  it  is  unrivalled. 

ZINC  (CALAMINE  POWDER). — Five  parts  of  lard  and  one  of  resin  are  melted  to- 
gether, and  when  these  begin  to  get  cool,  two  parts  of  the  calamine,  reduced  to 
an  impalpable  powder,  are  stirred  in.  If  the  wound  is  not  healthy,  a  small  quan- 
tity of  common  turpentine  may  be  added.  This  salve  justly  deserves  the  name 
which  it  has  gained — "The  Healing  Ointment."  The  calamuie  is  sometimes 
sprinkled  with  advantage  on  cracked  heels  and  superficial  sores. 

RECEIPTS. 

DROPS  TO  MAKE  OLD  HORSES  YOUNG.— Take  the  tr.  of  asafoetida  1  oz. ;  tr.  of 
cantharides,  1  oz. ;  oil  of  cloves,  1  oz. ;  oil  of  cinnamon,  1  oz. ;  antimony,  2  oz. ; 
fenugreek,  oneoz. ;  fourth  proof  brandy,  half  gallon.  Let  it  stand  ten  or  twelve 
days,  and  give  ten  drops  in  a  pail  of  water — or  one  gallon. 

WONDERFUL  LINIMENT.— Two  ounces  oil  of  spike,  2  do.  origanum,  2  do.  hemlock, 
2  do.  wormwood,  4  do.  sweet  oil,  2  do.  spts.  ammonia,  2  do,  gum  camphor,  2  do. 
spts.  turpentine,  and  one  quart  of  proof  spirits,  95  per  cent  Mix  well  together, 
and  bottle  tight. 

For  sprains,  bruisees,  lameness,  &c.,  &c.,  the  above  liniment  cannot  be  equalled, 
and  is  actually  worth  $100  to  any  person  keeping  valuable  horses.  Omit  the  tur- 
pentine, and  you  have  the  best  liniment  ever  made  for  human  ails,  such  as  rheu- 
matism, sprains,  &c.  "Whenever  an  outward  application  is  required,  try  it,  and 
prove  its  virtues.  It  acts  like  magic. 

RHEUMATIC  LINIMENT.— Take  alchol,  £  pint. ;  oil  of  origanum,  J  oz  ;  cayenne,  £ 
oz. ;  gum  myrrh.  |  oz. ;  1  tea-spoonful  of  lobelia,  and  let  it  stand  one  day ;  then 
bathe  the  part  affected. 

RELIEF  LINIMENT.— Take  J  pint  linseed  oil,  add  i  pint  spts.  turpentine,  1  oz.  ori- 
ganum, and  1  oz.  oil  of  vitriol ;  au  excellent  liniment  for  rheumatism,  sprains, 
bruises,  &c.  Try  and  prove  it. 


180  THE   ORANGE   COUNTY 

CHLORFORM  LINIMENT.— For  relieving  suffering  in  case  of  burns,  &c.  Mix 
chloroform  and  cod-liver  oil. 

SOAP  LINIMENT.— Take  1  oz.  origanum,  1  oz.  Castile  soap,  1  pint  alcohol.  For 
swellings,  &c. 

GENERAL  LINIMENT. — Turpentine,  one  half-pint ;  linseed  oil,  one  half-pint ;  aqua- 
monia,  4  oz. ;  tr.  of  iodine,  1.  Shake  it  all  well.  This  is  used  for  different  things 
spoken  of  in  the  different  receipts,  sores  or  swellings,  sprains,  &c. 

BLACK  LINIMENT. — This  is  good  to  apply  on  poll-evil — fistula.  Take  of  linseed 
oil,  Jpint;  tr.  of  iodine,  3  oz. ;  turpentine,  4  oz.;  oil  of  origanum,  1  oz.  Shake  all 
well,  and  apply  it  every  day.  Rub  it  iu  well  with  your  hand.  Wash  the  part 
clean  with  soap  and  water  before  applying  it.  Good  on  any  swelling. 

JOHNSON'S  LINIMENT.— Take  oil  of  origanum,  1  oz. ;  alcohol,  £  pint ;  oil  of  cedar, 
i  oz. ;  oil  of  cloves,  £  oz. ;  turpentine,  J  oz. ;  olive  oil,  8  ounces.  Shake  well.  Used 
for  almost  all  complaints  of  the  muscles. 

OPODELDOC.— Take  alcohol,  half  a  gallon ;  2  pounds  of  Castile  Soap,  4  oz.  gum 
camphor,  2  oz.  oil  of  amber ;  place  alcohol  into  a  pot  in  hot  water,  shave  up  the 
soap,  keep  hot  until  all  dissolves,  and  you  have  the  old  orignal  opodeldoc. 

GREEN  OINTMENT.— Take  6  Ibs.  lard,  put  into  10-gallon  kettle,  add  2  gallons 
water,  cut  jimson-weeds  and  fill  them  in  and  cook  four  to  six  hours,  slow,  and  cook 
all  ^he  water  out,  then  put  into  jars.  Add  to  each  pound  of  ointment  1  ounce  of 
turpentine.  A  good  and  cheap  stable  ointment— good  for  galls,  cuts,  scratches, 
&c. 

SLOAN'S  OINTMENT.— Take  mutton  tallow,  4  Ibs. ;  beeswax,  one  half-pound ;  resin, 
one  half-pound  ;  turpentine,  3  oz.  Melt  over  a  slow  fire,  and,  when  partly  cold, 
add  the  turpentine,  and  you  have  the  same  ointment  Sloan  sells  to  cure  every- 
thing ;  try  it,  and  prove  its  value. 

IODINE  OINTMENT. — Get  1  oz.  of  the  grease  iodine,  1  pint  of  alcohol.  Let  this 
stand  in  the  sun  two  days,  and  this  is  the  tincture  of  iodine.  Take  2  oz.  of  tinc- 
ture and  i  pint  of  lard,  mix  well,  and  you  have  the  iodine  ointment.  This  is  used 
wherever  the  receipts  refer  to  the  ointment. 

WHITE  OINTMENT. — For  rheumatism,  sprains,  burns,  swellings,  bruises,  or  any 
inflammation  on  man  or  beast,  chapped  hands  or  lips,  black  eyes,  or  any  kind  of 
bruise.  Take  fresh  butter,  2  Ibs. ;  tr.  of  iodine,  half  ounce  ;  oil  of  origanum,  2  oz. 
Mix  this  well  for  fifteen  minutes,  and  it  is  fit  for  use.  Apply  it  every  night.  Rub 
it  in  well  with  your  hand.  If  for  human  flesh,  lay  on  warm  flannel. 

BLUE  OINTMENT. — Take  the  ointment  of  resin,  4  oz. ;  half  oz.  of  finely-ground 
verdigris,  2  oz.  turpentine,  2  Ibs.  mutton  tallow,  half  oz,  oil  of  origanum,  half  oz. 
tr.  of  iodine.  Mix  all  well.  This  is  one  of  the  best  medicines  that  can  be  made 
for  scratches,  hoof-evil,  cuts,  and  is  good  to  apply  on  fistula  after  the  rowels  have 
been  taken  out. 

HOOF  OINTMENT.— Take  resin,  4  oz. ;  beeswax,  6  oz. ;  lard,  2  Ibs.  Melt  together. 
Pour  it  into  a  pot,  and  3  oz.  of  turpentine,  2  oz.  of  finely  powdered  verdigris,  1  Ib. 
tallow.  Stir  until  it  gets  cool.  One  of  the  best  medicines  for  the  hoof,  good  for 
corks  or  bruises  of  the  feet. 

HOOF  LIQUID. — For  tender  feet,  hoof-bound,  &c.  Linseed  or  neatsfoot  oil,  half 
a  pint  of  either  ;  turpentine,  4  oz.  ;  oil  of  tar,  6  oz. ;  origanum,  3  o/.  Shake  this 
•well  and  apply  it  as  the  directions  for  the  ointment.  This  is  the  best,  if  the  horse 
has  been  lame  long  ;  it  penetrates  the  hoof  sooner  than  the  ointment.  Both  of 
them  should  be  applied  at  night. 

HOOF-EVIL  OR  THRUSH,  GREASE  HEELS.— Bleed,  and  physic,  and  poultice  the 
foot  with  boiled  turnips  and  some  fine-ground  charcoal.  This  must  be  done  at 
night,  for  two  or  three  nights  ;  then  wash  the  foot  clean  with  Castile  soap  and 
soft  water,  and  apply  the  blue  ointment  every  day.  Keep  the  horse  on  a  floor, 
and  he  will  be  well  in  twelve  days. 

HOOF-BOUND,  OR  TENDER  FEET.— Never  have  the  feet  spread  at  the  heels  nor 
rasped  above  the  nail  holes,  for  it  will  do  the  foot  an  injury.  Follow  the  direc- 
tions given  hero.  Use  either  the  hoof  ointment  or  the  hoof  liquid.  Apply  it  ac- 
cording to  directions.  For  hoof-bound  or  tender  feet,  apply  it  all  around  the  top 
of  the  hoof  down  one  inch  eyery  third  day.  If  for  split  hoof  apply  it  every  day. 
First,  have  a  stiff  shoe  on  the  foot  and  cleanse  the  cut  or  crack.  Never  cut  or 
burn  for  it. 

HOOF  AIL.— Apply  blue  vitriol,  a.nd  put  on  a  tarred  rag  to  keep  out  the  dirt. 

No.  2.  Wash  Avell  with  warm  soap-suds,  wipe  dry  with  a  cloth ;  then  take  2 
spoonsful  of  common  table  salt,  2  spoonsful  of  copperas,  pulverize ;  4  spoonsful  of 
soft  soap.  Mix  well.  Spread  upon  a  thick  cloth,  apply  to  the  foot,  then  confine 
it  with  a  bandage.  Let  it  remain  12  hours,  then  wash  as  before. 

HOOF-BOUND.— Pare  the  heel  of  the  hoof  till  it  is  as  flat  and  natural  as  a  colt's, 
then  take  equal  parts  pitch  pine  and  butter  simmered  together  and  anoint  the  heel. 

HEAVES.— Take  1  Ib.  of  resin,  1  Ib.  of  salpetre,  8  oz.  alum,  1  oz.  of  asafcetida,  4 
oz.  of  sulphnr.  Pulverize  and  mix.  Give  one  tea-spoonful  once  a  day  in  his 
feed.  This  is  also  a  good  medicine  for  putting  a  horse  in  condition. 


STUD  BOOK.  181 

PREPARATION  FOR  GELDING  HORSES.— Take  2  oz.  corrosive  sublimate,  1  oz.  gum 
kino,  1  oz.  red  precipitate. 

SPR~/N  IN  THE  STIFLE.— Symptons— The  horse  holds  up  his  foot,  moans  when 
moved,  swells  in  the  stifle.  This  is  what  is  called  stifling.  There  is  no  such 
thing  as  this  joint  getting  out  of  place.  Cure— Bleed  2  gallons  foment  the  stifle 
with  hot  water,  ruh  it  dry,  then  bathe  it  well  with  the  general  liniment  every 
morning  and  night.  Give  him  a  mash  and  he  will  be  well.  Never  allow  any  sti- 
fle-shoe or  cord  on  the  foot  or  leg. 

How  TO  CURE  CORNS.— Take  off  the  shoe,  cut  out  the  corns,  and  drop  in  a  few 
drops  of  muriatic  acid,  then  make  the  shoes  so  as  they  will  not  bear  on  the  part 
affected.  Apply  the  hoof  liquid  to  the  hoof  to  remove  the  fever.  This  is  a  sure 
treatment.  We  never  knew  it  to  fail. 

COUNS. — Take  the  shoe  off  and  give  the  horse  a  free  run  at  grass  for  a  few 
weeks.  This  will  frequently  cure. 

FOUNDER  IN  THE  FIRST  STAGES.— Bleed  from  the  neck- vein  2  or  3  gallons  or  until 
he  falls,  then  give  the  following:  Half  pz.  of  aloes.  4  drachms  of  gamboge,  half 
oz.  oil  of  sassafras.  Make  this  into  a  pill,  give  it,  and  give  him  all  the  sassafras 
tea  he  will  drink ;  turn  up  his  feet,  and  fill  them  full  of  boiling  hot  lard ;  bathe 
his  legs  in  hot  water,  and  rub  them  well.  This  will  never  fail  to  cure  in  48 
hoars. 

No.  2.  Physic  and  poultice  the  feet. 

No.  3.  Mix  1  pint  of  sunflower  seed  in  his  food. 

SPAVIN  OR  RING-BOXE,— Take  1  pint  spts.  turpentine,  1  pint  of  oil  spike,  4  oz. 
saltpetre,  4  oz.  of  alum,  2  oz.  oil  of  vitriol.  Bathe  the  part  affected  thoroughly 
every  other  day  for  one  week,  and  if  this  does  not  effect  a  cure  continue  it  longer. 
This  has  cured  spavins  of  nine  years'  standing.  This  receipt  has  been  used  with 
great  success. 

SPAVIN  AND  RING-BONE  MEDICINE.— Take  of  cantharides,  2  oz. ;  mercurial  oint- 
ment, 4  oz,  ;  tr.  of  iodine,  3  oz. ;  turpentine,  4  oz. ;  corrosive  sublimate,  3  drachma. 
Mix  all  well  with  2  Ibs.  of  lard.  Color  it  if  you  like.  Follow  the  directions  here 
given. 

If  for  ring-bone  or  bone-spavin,  cut  off  the  hair  from  the  part  affected,  and 
merely  grease  the  lump  with  the  ointment.  Rub  it  well  with  the  naked  hand.  In 
t\vo  days  grease  the  part  with  lard,  and  in  four  days  wash  it  off  with  soap  and 
water,  and  apply  the  ointment  again.  So  repeat  it  every  four  days.  If  for  wind- 
galls,  or  bog-spavin,  or  curb,  apply  the  ointment  every  six  days.  This  recipe  has 
been  sold  for  $300. 

SPAVIN. — Camphor  dissolved  in  spirits  of  turpentine,  applied  ,until  the  hair 
starts. 

No.  2.  Oil  vitriol,  origanum,  cedar  oil,  Spanish  flies,  equal  parts ;  3  oz.  turpen- 
tine. 

To  CURE  RING-BONE  WHEN  FIRST  COMING.—  Dissolve  J  pound  of  saltpetre  in  1 
quart  soft  water,  and  wash  with  it  twice  a  day.  This  will  stop  the  growth  and 
lameness,  and  not  remove  the  hair. 

RING-BONE.— Take  of  spts.  turpentine,  oil  of  spike,  of  each  1  oz.;  bottle  and  mix 
well ;  then  add  1  oz.  of  oil  vitriol.  Bathe  the  diseased  part  well  for  three  days, 
and  drive  it  in  by  the  application  of  a  hot  iron  ;  then  suspend  it  for  three  days,  to 
prevent  the  part  becoming  too  sore,  then  apply  the  remedy  again.  The  sore  should 
be  treated  with  lard  or  ointment.  This  will  cure  the  disease  if  not  of  too  long 
standing. 

POLL-EVIL. — Cure  before  it  breaks.  Run  a  towel  or  seton  from  the  lower  part 
of  the  swelling  to  the  top,  through  the  centre  of  the  enlargement,  then  make  the 
following  lotion:  Take  of  salamoniac,  2  oz.;  and  turpentine  spirits,  half  pint;  4 
oz.  linseed  oil,  and  4  oz.  spts.  tar.  Shake  all  well,  and  apply  it  all  over  the  swel- 
ling every  other  day.  Let  the  seton  stay  in  until  all  the  swelling  is  gone  down  ; 
move  it  every  day,  and  when  all  is  gone  draw  it  out.  Bleed  when  you  first  open 
it.  Keep  the  part  clean. 

POLL  EVIL  AFTER  IT  BREAKS.— If  you  find  by  probing  it  that  the  pipes  run  down 
towards  the  surface,  run  down  a  seton  through  the  bottom  of  the  pipe,  and  anoint 
it  with  the  following  ointment:  Take  of  mercurial  ointment,  4  oz.;  and  of  can- 
tharides, half  an  ounce.  Anoint  the  seton  every  day  until  it  runs  a  bloody  matter, 
then  draw  it  out,  if  the  pipes  run  down  to  the  centre  of  the  shoulders ;  then  run 
down  a  piece  of  the  nitre  of  silver  to  the  bottom,  and  use  the  liquid  in  the  next 
following  receipt.  Apply  on  the  sore  every  day.  Keep  the  part  clean  with  soap 
and  water. 

LIQUID  FOR  POLL  EVIL. — Take  olive  oil,  6  ounces ;  turpentine,  half  ox.,  oil  of 
origanum,  half  oz.;  American  or  seneka  oil,  3  oz.  Mix  well,  and  apply  to  the  part 
affected,  after  the  nitre  of  silver  has  been  used.  Apply  this  every  few  days  until 
it  heals  up.  The  cleaner  you  keep  the  part  the  better. 


JASON   H.  TUTTLE'S 
PRICE    LIST. 


Useful  Articles  Needed  by  All  Horsemen. 

Check  neins,  Flat,  12.00 ;  Round .each  $3.00 

Check  Bits "  2.00 

Baldwin  Bits,  from "         $2.00  to  4.50 

Dan  Mace's  Trotting  Snaffle,  nickel  plated,  1  check "  3.00 

"       InU  check "  4.00 

Rubber  Mouth  with  chain  inside "           1.50  to  2.50 

Star  Bits "           2X0  to  6.00 

Rubber  Mouth,  stiff u          1.50  to  3.00 

Martin  Bits  for  Bad  Horses "           6.00  to  11.00 

4  Ring  Double  Jointed  (2  jointa) "          2.50  to  4.00 

4  Tang  Single  Jointed "           1.50  to  3.00 

4-inch  Ring  Race  Bits,  nickel "  3X0 

Rockwell  Bits,  nickel  plated "  4.00 

Voodmaun's  Bits,  nickel  plated "  3.00 

CnrbBitsof  all  grades "           1.00  to  10X0 

Clipping  Combs "           0.50  to  1X0 

Sweat  Scrapers,  short  and  long "           0.50  to  2X0 

Tooth  Rasp  or  Float,  in  the  rough "  3X0 

"       polished "  4.00 

"      nickel  plated "  5.00 

Rein  Holders  and  Button. perpr.    1X0  to  2-00 

Snow  Boil  Pods. "  2.00 

Feather  Dusters each       1.50  to  6X0 

Chamoi-  f^kins "           O50  to  2X0 

Sponge  (Beep's  wool) per  p'd.  3.00 

Carriage  Mats  (wool) each       3.00  to  10.00 

Monograms  for  harness "           3X0  to  4X0 

Harness  Soap;  $1.  00  per  cake,  or per  doz.  8.00 

Horso  Plumes each       1X0  to  4X0 

Bells  to  go  around  the  body per  stg.  3X0  to  25.00 

Felt  Soaking  Boot each  3.50 

Sheep  Lined  Grab  Boot. per  pr.  6X0 

Loaded  or  Weight  Boot,  any  weight "  5X0 

SpongeLined  Soaking  Boots M  7X0 

Shoe  Boil  or  Sleeping  Boots •  6X0 

Cup  Ankle  Boots "  2.00 

Trotting  Rollers,  wood,  horn,  or  rubber each  1X0 


Knee,  Shin,  and  Ankle  Boots. 
Bristle  Ankle  Boots. 


4X0 
2.50 
3X0 

3.00 
2.50 
2.50 
2.50 
3.00 
4.00 
3.00 
3.00 

Lawn  Boots  for  walking  on  Lawns per  pr.  8.50 

Sandals,  used  to  carry  on  a  journey  in  case  a  horse  loses  his 

shoes each  4.00 

India  Rubber  Overshoes  for  horses  with  tender  feet;  can  be 
used  to  drive  on  the  roads  with  perfect  safety,  no  oth- 
er shoes  required per  pr.  4.50 


Round  Quarter  Boots 

Standing  Boots,  when  a  horse  stands  with  one  foot  resting  on 

the  other 

Short  Shin  and  Ankle  Boots 

Long  Knee,  and  Ankle  Boots 

Shin  and  Ankle  Boots 

Knee  Boots- 

Knee  and  Arm  Boots 

Shin  or  Speedy  Cut  Boots 

Knee  and  Shin  Boots 


American  Hunting  Scenes—"  A  Good  Chance." 
Close  Quarters— Setter  and  Woodcock.    Life  Size. 
Pointing  a  Bevy,  Pointer  and  Quail.    Life  size. 

BOOKS  ON  THE  HORSE. 

Racing  Chronicle $3.00 

The  Trotting  Horse  of  America;  how  to  Train  and  Drive  him;  by  Hiram 

Woodruff 2.56 

b  Tattersall's  Pictorial  Gallery  of  English  Race  Horses.  Containing  Por- 
traits of  all  the  Winners  of  the  Derby,  Oaks  and  St.  Leger  Stakes, 
from  1831  to  1850,  and  a  History  of  the  principal  Operations  of  the 

Turf 8.00 

b  The  Horse  Owner's  Guide,  by  F.  H.  Walther 1.50 

b  Youatt  on  the  Horse.    Illustrated 2.00 

b  Horse  Racing ;  its  History  ;  and  Early  Records  of  the  principal  and  oth- 
er Meetings,  with  Anecdotes,  etc 

b  Jennings  on  the  Horse  and  his  Diseases 2.00 

b  Mayhew's  Illustrated  Horse  Doctor 3.00 

b  Stonehenge  on  the  Horse  in  the  Stable  and  in  the  Field.     Illustrated. . .  5.00 

t  The  Horse  in  the  Stable  and  in  the  Field,  by  J.  H.  Walsh 2.00 

z  John  Stewart's  Stable  Book 1.75 

z  Youatt  and  Spooner  on  the  Horse 1.75 

z  Jennings'  Horse  Training  Made  Easy 1.40 

z  Simpson's  Horse  Portraiture 3.00 

z  Cole's  Veterinarian 1.00 

b  Handy  Horse  Book,  or  Practical  Instructions  in  Driving,  Riding,  and 

Management  of  Horses 2.50 

b  Hints  to  Horse  Keepers  on  Breeding,  Buying,  Breaking,  Using,  Feeding, 

and  Physicing  Horses,  by  Frank  Forester 2.00 

Rarey  and  Knowlson's  Complete  Horse  Tamer  and  Farrier.    Illustrated 

with  descriptive  engravings 0.60 

d  The  Complete  Farrier  and  Horse  Doctor 0.30 

r  Turf  Fraud  and  Turf  Practices ;  or,  Spiders  and  Flies 0.75 

ANTI-CBIBBING-  STRAP. 

This  Strap  Is  patented,  and  is  the  only  discovery,  except  the  obnoxious  muz- 
zle, to  break  or  prevent  Horses  from  Cribbing  or  Wind-Sucking.  Recommend- 
ed by  WILKES'  SPIRIT,  and  TURF,  FIELD,  AND  FARM.  Full  directions  accom- 
pany each  Strap.  Price  each,  $3.00. 

HORSE  GOODS. 

Jockey  Cap,  silk,  any  color,  to  order : . .  $3.50 

Weight  boots,  per  pair,  from  4  oz.  to  IK  ft 5.50 

Boston  Reins 12.00 

Holders  for  Reins 3.50 

Shin  Boots 6.00 

Lolling  Bit 6.00 

Derby  Bandages,  per  set  of  four 5.00 

Knee  Boots,  for  protecting  above  and  below  the  knee 10.00 

Toe  Boots,  per  pair 6.00 

Spurs.per  pair,from  $1.00  to 6.00 

Whips,  GuttaPercha,  8  feet,  $4.25;  4  feet 2.00 

PERFORATED  STOCKING. 

Lewis's  Patent. 

This  Elastic  Stocking  is  designed  to  be  applied  to  the  legs  of  horses,  but  is  es- 
pecially invaluable  to  horses  employed  for  RACING  PURPOSES.  It  supports  the 
muscles,  tendons,  cords,  etc.,  and  does  away  entirely  with  over-straining  and 
spraining.  It  needs  but  a  single  trial  to  convince  any  horseman  of  its  merits. 
The  ablest  and  most  experienced  trainers  of  both  RUNNERS  and  TROTTERS  pro- 
nounce it  invaluable.  Sold  only  in  pairs,  at  $6.00  per  pair. 

DOG  COLLARS. 

Leather  Dog  Collars,  from  50  c.  to $1.00 

German  Silver  and  Brass  Dog  Collars,  from  60  c.  to 2.00 

WORKS  ON  THE  DOG. 

b  The  Dog  ;  by  Dinks,  Mayhew,  and  Hutchinson.     Illustrated  and  edited 

by  Frank  Forester $3.00 

r  Mayhew's  Treatise  on  the  Dog 1.00 

p  Dogs  and  their  Ways 1.50 

z  The  Dog  and  the  Gun 0.50 

z  Richardson  on  the  Dog 0.50 

»  tne  Dog  in  Health  and  Disease «..  0.50 


HORSE  PICTURES. 

Splendid  Colored  Lithographs,  size  14x18.     Price,  30  cents  each,  or  the  set  oC 

_  fourteen  for  $3.50. 

ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  MATE,  DUTCHMAN, 

DEXTER,  LADY  FULTON, 

GOLDSMITH  MAID,  HAMBLETONIAN, 

LUCY,  FLOBA  TEMPLE, 

AMERICAN  GIBL,  OCCIDENT, 

HENBY,  HABBY  BASSETT, 

LADY  THOBN,  LONGFELLOW. 

NEW  RACE  HORSES. 

Harry  Bassett,  with  Jockey  waiting  for  the  signal,  size  25x33 $3.00 

Harry  Bassett  and  Longfellow,  with  jockeys,  at  full  speed,  size  25x33 8.00 

SPORTING_  PRINTS. 

Beautifully  Colored  Lithographs,  for  Saloons,  Hotels,  etc.,  etc.,  etc. 

ROAD  AND  TRACK  SCENES. 

Size  26x36,  each  $4.00. 
A  Stopping  Place  on  the  Road. 
Trotting  Cracks  at  Home— A  Model  Stable. 
Trotting  Cracks  at  the  Forge. 
Going  to  the  Trot— a  Good  Day  and  a  Good  Track. 
Coining  from  the  Trot^-"  Sports  "  on  "  Homestretch,** 
Fast  Trotters  on  ••  Harlem  Lane." 
Speeding  on  the  Avenue. 

A  Brush  for  the  Lead— New  York  "  Flyers  "  on  Snow. 
First  Trot  of  the  Season— To  go  as  they  please. 

Size  25z33,  eath  $3.00. 
Scoring— Coming  up  for  the  Work. 
A  Brush  on  the  Homestretch. 
Won  by  a  Neck. 
Trotting  Cracks  on  the  Snow. 

FAMOUS  TROTTING  HORSES 

Size  25z33,  each  $3.00. 
The  King  of  the  Road— Dexter  and  Bonner. 
American  Girl  and  Lady  Thorn. 
Goldsmith  Maid  and  American  Girl. 
John  Stewart^-20-Mile  Trot.    To  Wagon,  59 :23, 
Billy  Boyce— Pacer.     To  Saddle,  2 :14>£. 
Dexter— To  Sulky,  2 :17^. 
Dexter  and  Ethan  Allen  and  Mate,  2 :15. 
Dexter— To  Saddle.     Time,  2 :18. 
Dexter  and  Butler— To  Wagons. 
Dexter,  Butler,  and  Toronto  Chief— To  Saddle. 
Lady  Thorn  and  Mountain  Boy— To  Sulkies. 
Lady  Thorn— To  Wagon. 
George  Wilkes— To  Wagon. 

Hambletonian,  the  Sire  of  Dexter.    In  the  Stable. 
George  M.  Patchen,  Jr.  To  Sulky. 
Wilkes  and  Vanderbilt— To  Wagons. 
Gray  Eagle  (of  Kentucky) — To  Wagon. 
Flora  Temple  and  Hero— To  Sulky  and  Wagon. 
Mambrino  Champion — In  Stable. 
Flora  Temple  and  Princess— To  Sulkies. 
Flora  Temple  and  Lancet— To  Sulkey  and  Saddle. 
Flora  Temple  and  Sontag— To  Wagons. 
Ethan  Allen  and  Patchen — To  Wagons. 
Ethan  Allen  and  Mate,  and  Lantern  and  Mate. 

Stella  and  Alice  Gray,  and  Lantern  and  Whalebone — Double  Team  Race. 
Tony  and  Mac— To  Saddles. 
Great  Double  Team  Trot— Jessie  Wales  and  Darkness,  and  Honest  Allen  and 

Kirkwood. 
George  Palmer  to  Sulky. 

Each  of  tTiese  Prints  has  a  fine  Portrait  of  the  Driver,  with  Tim*, 
day  and  date  of  the  Matches,  and  beautifully  colored. 


RACING  SCENES. 

Peytonia  and  Fashion,  running  their  great  race,  size  25x33 $3.00 

Jerome  Park  Races— Saddling,  22x28 1.75 

False  Start,  22x28 ." 1.75 

The  Race,  22x28 1.75 

Returning  to  Weigh,  22x28 1.75 

Curragh  Kildare  Races,  22x28 1.25 

Flying  Dutchman  and  Voltigeur— Running  Race,  22x28 1.50 

MISCELLANEOUS  TROTTEBS,  etc. 

Lady  Thorn  and  American  Girl,  22x28 $2.25 

Dexter,  Ethan  Allen  and  Mate,  22x28 2.25 

Butler,  Silas  Rich,  and  Bashaw,  Jr.,  22x28 2.50 

Dexter— in  Harness,  driven  by  Hiram  Woodruff,  22x28 2.00 

Dexter— To  Wagon.    Time,  2 :17%,  22x28 2.00 

Dexter— In  the  Stable  (Chromo),  15x20 2.25 

z  Hambletonian — In  the  Stable  (Chromo),  23x30 2.15 

z  Mambrino  Pilot  and  Flora  Temple— In  the  Field,  25x33 3.00 

Hambletonian  and  Widow  Machree— In  the  Field,  25x33 3.00 

Ethan  Allen  and  Pocahontas— In  the  Field,  25x33 3.00 

"  Four  in  Hand  "—The  Drive,  25x33 3.00 

The  Road  in  Summer,  25x33 3.00 

The  Road  in  Winter,  25x33 3.00 

Going  to  the  Trot,  22x28 2.50 

Coming  from  the  Trot,  22x28 2.50 

A  Stopping  Place  on  the  Road,  22x28 2.50 

John  Stewart — Twenty-Mile  Trot  to  Wagon.  Containing  many  Full  Length 
Portraits  of  Sporting  Celebrities,  including  O'Baldwin,  Joe  Coburn, 

Harry  Hill,  Bob  Brettle,  Ed.  James  and  others,  25x33 3.00 

A  Crack  Team  at  a  Smashing  Gait,  24x30 2.00 

A  Trot  for  the  Gate  Money,  24x30 2.00 

A  "  Spill  Out "  on  the  Snow,  24x30 2.00 

Size  25z33,  each  $2.00. 
Flora  Temple— To  Sulky,  2 :19^. 
George  M.  Patchen— To  Sulky. 
Lady  Suffolk— To  Sulky. 
Pocahontas— To  Wagon,  2 :17}£. 
Trustee— To  Sulky.    Twenty- Mile  Trot. 
Lexington— In  the  Field,  7  :19%. 

Lady  Suffolk— To  Saddle,  22x28 $1.50 

Dutchman— To  Saddle,  7  :32>£,  22x28 1.50 

DOQS,  HORSES,  STAGS,  etc. 

z  Spaniel  (12  in  circle) $3.50 

zBullDog          "            3.50 

zRightSort       "           3.50 

z  Tan  Terrier   "            3.50 

*  Bell  and  Harry,  14x18 0.60 

z  Laying  Down  the  Law,  23x35 7.00 

z  Hector  and  Juno,  22x28 2.00 

z  First  Lesson  in  Ratting,  22x28 1.25 

The  Inundation— Dog  and  Pups,  19x24 0.50 

z  Huntsman  and  Hounds,  22x28 1.25 

z  Horses  in  a  Storm,  22x28 1.25 

z  Members  of  Temperance,  21x30 2.50 

Size  22x28,  each  $1.25. 
z  Horse  and  Groom. 
z  Horse  Fair. 
z  Hurdle  Races,  I.  and  II. 
z  Bayed  Stag. 
z  Weighing  the  Deer. 
z  The  Stag  Hunt,  I.  and  II. 

GAME  FOWL,  BIRDS,  etc. 

.  "he  Poultry  Yard 0.50 

FIELD  SPORTS  AND  GAME. 

Size  25x33,  each  $3.75. 
American  Field  Sports — "  On  a  Point." 
American  Field  Sports—"  Flushed." 
American  Field  Sports—"  Both  Barrels." 
American  Field  Sports—"  Retrieving." 
Camping  in  the  Woods—"  A  Good  Time  Coming." 
Camping  in  the  Woods— "  Laying  Off," 
American  limiting  Scenes—"  An  Early  Start." 


STANDARD  WORKS  ON  THE 
AMERICAN  HORSE, 

JOB  SALE  BY  BOOKSELLEBS  AND  NEWSDEALERS  GENEBALLY. 

Wallace's  American  Trotting  Register,  containing  all  that 

is  known  of  the  Pedigrees  of  Trotting  Horses,  their  ancestors  and  descendants. 


in  w.iu  or  less,  irom  me  earnest  nates  ILU  me 
performances  of  1869  and  1870.     Giving  compl 
contests.    "With  an  Introductory  Essay  on  th 
ter.    And  a  set  of  P.ules  for  the  Government  c 


of  the  Pedigrees  of  Trotting  Horses,  th 
with  a  record  of  all  published  performances  in  which  a  mile  was  trotted  or  paced 
in  2:40  or  less,  from  the  earliest  dates  till  the  close  of  1868,  and  a  lull  record  of  the 

plete  summaries  of  over  six  thousand 
the  true  origin  of  the  American  Trot- 
>vernment  of  all  trials  of  speed.    By  J.  H.  WAL- 
LACE, compiler  of  Wallace's  American  Stud  Book.    Boyal  octavo.    Post-paid, 
TEN  DOLLARS. 

Frank  Forester's  Horse  and  Horsemanship  of  the  United 

States  and  British  Provinces  of  North  America,  By  HENBY  WILLIAM  HEB- 
BERT,  in  two  superh  royal  octavo  volumes,  of  1200  pages,  with  Steel  Engravef 
original  Portraits  of  thirty  celebrated  representative  Horses.  This  Standard  His- 
torical Work  has  been  thoroughly  revised,  newly  written,  compiled  and  perfected 
to  the  present  time.  By  S.  D.  &  B.  G.  BBUCE,  Editors  of  the  Turf,  Field,  and 
Farm.  Price,  post-paid,  TEN  DOLLAKS. 

Wallace's  American  Stud  Book.    Volume  one.     Being  a 

compilation  of  the  pedigrees  of  American  and  Imported  Blood  Horses  from  the 
earliest  records,  with  an  APPENDIX  of  all  named  animals  without  extended  Pedi- 
grees prior  to  the  year  1840.  And  a  SUPPLEMENT,  containing  a  history  of  all  Horses 
and  Mares  that  have  trotted  in  public  from  the  earliest  trotting  races  to  the  close 
of  1866.  By  J.  H.  WALLACE.  Boyal  8vo,  of  over  1000  pages,  elegantly  bound  in 
extra  cloth,  beveled  boards  and  splendidly  illustrated.  Price,  post-paid,  $10.00. 

Horse  Portraiture.  Breeding,  Rearing,  and  Training  Trotters. 
Preparations  for  Baces;  Management  in  the  Stable;  on  the  Track;  Horse  Life, 
etc,,  etc.  By  JOHN  CAIBN  SIMPSON.  Post  octavo,  post-paid,  $3.00.— "The 
most  valuable  work  on  the  breeding,  rearing,  and  training  of  Trotters  ever  pre- 
sented to  the  American  public."— Turf,  Field,  and  Farm. 

The  Horse  in  the  Stable  and  in  the  Field :  His  Varieties, 

Management  in  Health  and  Disease.  Anatomy,  Physiology,  etc.,  etc.  By  J.  H. 
WALSH,  F.  B.  C.  S.  (Stonehenge).  Illustrated  with  one  hundred  and  seventy  en- 
gravings,  and  with  all  the  most  practical  work  on  the  subject.  One  large  8vo  vol- 
ume. Price,  post-paid,  $3.50. 

On  Seats  and  Saddles,  Bits  and  Bitting,  and  the  Prevention 

and  Care  of  Bestiveness  in  Horses.    By  FB  ANCIS  DWYEll.    By  mail,  post-paid, 

12.00. 

THE  GENTLEMEN'S  STABLE  GUIDE.    By  EGBERT  McCLURR.    .    .    .  $1.25 

THE  FABMEB'S  BARN  BOOK. 1.50 

HOMEOPATHIC  VETEBINABY  PBACTICE 5.00 

MAYKEWS  ILLUSTBATED  HORSE  DOCTOB. 3.00 

MAYHEW'S  ILLUSTBATED  HOBSE  MANAGEMENT 3.00 

Standard  Works  on  Field  Sports. 

FISH  AND  FISHING,  THE  DOG,  THE  GUN  AND  AGBICULTUBE. 
Sentpost-paid  on  receipt  of  price. 

Frank  Forester's  Field  Sports  of  the  United  States  and  British 

Provinces  of  North  America,  by  Henry  William  Herbert.  Embracing  the  Game 
of  North  America,  Upland  Shooting,  Bay  Shooting,  Wild  Sporting  of  the  Wilder- 
ness; Forest,  Prairie  and  Mountain  Sports;  Bear  Hunting,  Turkey  Shooting,  etc. 
Fourteenth  edition,  revised  and  illustrated.  Two  post  octevo  volumes,  $6.00. 

Frank  Forester's  Fish  and  Fishing  of  ths  United  States  and 

British  Provinces  of  North  America.  100  engravings  and  plate  of  24  colored  flies. 
By  Henry  William  Herbert.  Embracing  a  full  illustrated  description  of  the  Game 
Fish  of  North  America,  Trout  and  Salmon  Fishing,  Shoal  Water  and  Deep  Sea 
Fishing,  Trolling,  Fly  Fishing,  etc.  12th  edition.  1  post  octavo  vol.  $3.50. 

Frank  Forester's  Complete  Manual  f or  Yonng  Sportsmen,  of 

Fowling,  Fishing  and  Field  Sports.  With  directions  for  handling  the  Gun,  the 
Rifle  and  the  Bod.  Art  of  Shooting  on  the  Wing.  The  Breaking,  Management 
and  Hunting  of  the  Dog.  The  Varieties  and  Habit  of  Game,  Biver,  Lake  and  Sea 
Fishing.  Prepared  for  instruction  and  Use  of  the  youth  of  America.  Post 
octavof  $3.00. 

Frank  Forester's  Game  in  its  Seasons,  fully  illustrated  and 

described.    New  edition,  post-paid,  $3.00. 


Standard  Works  on  Field  Sports— (Continued). 

Gun,  Rod,  and  Saddle.  Personal  Experiences.  By  "  Tibia ue" 
Nearly  50  Practical  Articles  on  Subjects  connected  with  Pishing," Shooting,' Rac- 
ing, Trotting,  etc.  $1.00. 

The  Dog.  By  Dinks,  Mayliew  and  Hutchinson.  Compiled  and 
Edited  by  Frank  Forester.  Containing  full  instructions  in  all  that  relates  to  the 
breeding,  rearing,  breaking,  kennelling  arid  conditioning  of  Dogs,  with  valuable  re- 
ceipts for  the  treatment  of  all  diseases.  Illustrated.  Post  octavo.  $3.00. 

The  Dead  Shot ;  or,  Sportsman's  Complete  Guide  ;  being  a  Treat- 
ise on  the  Use  of  the  Gun,  with  Eudiraentary  and  Finishing  Lessons  in  the  Art  of 
Shooting  Game  of  all  kinds.  By  Marksman.  $1.75. 

The  Crack  Shot ;  or  Young  Rifleman's  Complete  Guide  ;  being  a 
Treatise  on  the  Use  of  the  Eifle,  with  Eudimentary  and  Finishing  Lessons,  in- 
cluding a  full  description  of  the  latest  improved  breech-loading  weapons,  rules, 
and  regulations  for  target  practice,  and  directions  for  hunting  game.  By  Edward 

The  Breech-Loader.     By"Gloan."    Fully  illustrated.     $2.00. 
Jacques*  Manual  of  the  Garden,  Farm  and  Barn-yard. 

Embracing  the  Cultivation  of  Vegetables,  Fruit,  Flowers,  all  Field  Crops,  Details 
of  Farm  work,  and  Rearing  Domestic  Animals.  New  and  Eevised  Edition.  1  vol. 
Post-paid.  $1.75. 

Todd's  Young  Farmer's  Manual.   Vol.  I.    The  Farm  and  the 

"Workshop,  with  Practical  directions  for  laying  out  a  Farm,  Erecting  Buildings, 
Fences,  Farm  Gates,  Selecting  good  Farm  and  Shop  Tools,  and  Performing  Farm- 
ing Operations.  Fully  illustrated.  Post-paid.  $1.75. 

Todd's  Young  Farmer's  Manual.    Vol.  II.    How  to  make 

Farming  Pay,  with  fufl  Details  of  Farm  Management,  Character  of  Soils,  Plowing, 
Management  of  Grass  Lauds,  Manures,  Farm  Implements,  Stock,  Drainage,  Plant- 
ing, Harvesting,  etc.  Illustrated.  Post-paid.  75c. 

SLOW  HQBSES  MADS  FAST, 

And  Fast  Horses  made  Faster. 

Including  all  successful  secrets  of  professional  horsemen,  exposures  of  fallacious 
theories  and  faulty  appliances,  tricks  of  jockeys  and  frauds  of  the  turf.  A  guide 
to  breeding,  raising  and  training  trotters,  as  well  as  developing  and  improving 
epeed  of  allhorses.  The  System  laid  down  in  this  book  is  the  one  to  which  DEX- 
TEE  owes  his  supremacy.  ROBERT  BONNEE  (editorial  in  N.  T.  Ledger)  says : 
"  A  series  of  very  interesting  and  instructive  articles." 

"A  very  readable  and  profitable  work  for  breeders  and  trainers  of  the  trotting 
horse.  The  work  treats  of  the  origin  of  the  American  trotter,  the  high  values  of 
fast  horses,  large  profits  from  raising  them,  achievements  of  celebrated  trotters. 
improvement  in  the  stock,  how  to  produce  the  best  trotters,  training,  shows  how 
good  horses  are  spoiled  by  fallacious  theories  and  faulty  appliances,  tells  how  to 
make  pacers  trot,  and  how  to  take  care  of  colts,  and  other  matters." — N.  Y.  Herald. 

"  The  interest  which  is  taken,  and  which  is  daily  increasing,  in  the  improve- 
ment of  horse-flesh  will  render  this  volume  an  exceedingly  acceptable  one  to  many 
people.  *  *  *  Cannot  fail,  through  its  reliability  to  become  a  standard  authority 
among  professional  horsemen  and  amateurs." — 'N.  T.  Express. 

"  A  well  written  treatise  on  the  history  of  the  American  trotter  and  on  the  best 
method  of  developing  speed,  with  the  exposure  of  fallacies  and  tricks  of  the  turf." 
—N.  T.  Evening  Mail 

"  By  no  means  fulfills  the  promise  in  the  title  of  a  catchpenny  publication,  but  is 
a  really  instructive  treatise  on  the  most  approved  legitimate  methods  of  develop- 
ing the  speed  of  horse-flesh.  *  *  *  Every  man  who  is  about  to  buy  a  horse  had 
better  consult  this  little  work  before  deciding  on  his  purchase."— JV.  T.  Tribune. 

"A  very  valuable  and  well  written  treatise,  giving  sketches  of  several  noted 
horses,  with  pictures  from  photographs,  and  presenting  a  system  for  improving 
the  speed  of  norses  which  appears  to  us  to  be  based  upon  a  clear  common  sense 
view  of  the  matter,  and  which  has  been  fairly  treated,  with  unexampled  results  in 
the  case  of  DEXTEE."— Pomeroy's  Democrat. 

Price,  Cloth  Binding,  $1.00. 

Address  all  orders, 

JASON  H.  TTfaTLE,  Publisher, 

79  NASSAU  STREET,  NEW  YOKE  CITT.K.  Y, 


THE  ORANGE  COUNTY  STUD  BOOK, 

GIVING  A  HISTORY  OF  AUU 

NOTED  STALLIONS  BRED  AND  RAISED  IN  ORANGE  COUNTY. 

BY  J.  H.  REEVES,  V.  S. 

TO  WHICH  IS  ADDED  A  COMPLETE  HISTORY  OF  THE  HORSE, 
IN  ALL  COUNTRIES,  IN  HEALTH  AND  IN  SICKNESS,  WITH  A  THOROUGH  TREATISE  ON  Wt 

Breeding,  Breaking,  Shoeing,  and  Curing. 

ADDED  TO  WHICH  IS    GIVEN 

A  LIST  OF  THE  BEST  TROTTING  HORSES  AND  FAMOUS  RACERS  IN  THE 
UNITED  STATES. 


This  Book  gives  the  History  of  All  Stallions  of  Note  Bred  and  Raised  in 
Orange  County  for  the  Past  Thirty  Years. 

It  gives  the  system  of  breeding  and  raising  colts  by  the  best  breeders  in  Orange 
County.  The  only  history  of  the  celebrated  stallion  H  A  MBLETONI AN.  now  25 
years  old,  and  still  serving  mares  at  the  rate  of  $500  each.  It  gives  the  number  of 
mares  served,  the  number  of  colts  got  each  year,  together  with  the  price  of  service, 
provin<*  him  to  be  not  only  the  sire  of  more  colts,  out  the  most  profitable  stallion 
in  the  world.  It  gives  the  history  of  the  celebrated  AMERICAN  STAR  from 
birth  to  his  deat'a,  in  February,  1861,  together  with  the  number  of  mares  served, 
the  number  of  colts  got  each  year,  and  the  price  got  for  service.  The  cross  between 
HAMBLETONIAN  and  STAR  has  produced  the  fastest  and  best  trotters  in  the 
world.  This  book  commands  the  attention  of  all  breeders,  as  Orange  County  is  the 
true  Nursery  of  fast  horses.  It  gives  the  practice  of  treating  sick  or  lame  horsas 
in  Orange  County,  with  a  large  collection  of  recipes  of  great  oenefit  to  all  owners. 
The  record  of  all  horses  that  trotted  in  2:30  and  under :  also  the  late  law  introduced 
by  the  Hon.E.  M.  Madden,  regulating  the  breed  of  stallions  in  this  State. 

This  work  was  written  by  the  Doctor  who  has  had  over  twenty  years'  experi- 
ence in  sick  and  lame  horses.  It  gives  his  great  secret  of  locating  disease  or  lame- 
ness with  as  much  certainty  as  if  the  horse  could  speak.  This  secret  has  never 
been  published,  and  is  worth  f  100.  His  recipe  for  curing  crib  and  wind  suckers ; 
his  celebrated  spavin  and  ring  bone  cure ;  his  cure  for  quarter  cracks  and  hoof- 
bound  horses ;  how  to  make  an  old  horse  appear  and  feel  young ;  how  to  give  a 
sleek  and  glossy  appearance ;  how  to  put  a  star  on  a  horse's  forehead,  or  to  spot 
him  like  circus  horses ;  how  to  break  a  horse  from  rubbing  his  tail ;  his  unrivalled 
cure  for  poll-evil  or  fistula  sores  in  this  work ;  to  properly  shoe  a  horse ;  to  cure 
founder,  wind  galls  or  splints ;  a  remedy  for  contracted  noofs ;  certain  cure  for 
scratches,  and  to  rid  a  horse  of  worms.  It  contains  everything  of  interest  pertain- 
ing to  the  horse ;  how  to  cure  broken  knees,  blind-staggers,  colic,  distemper,  and 
free  discharge  of  urine,  fresh  wounds,  fever,  falling  of  the  hair,  hoof-evil  or  thrush, 
heaves  inflamed  eyes,  jaundice,  lung  fever,  mange.  How  to  make  a  horse  feed  well 
that  has  lost  appetite.  How  to  cure  stiff  shoulders,  spring-halt,  and  tell  a  horse's 
age. 

A  wise  man  will  look  after  the  health  and  proper  care  of  his  horse.  How  many 
valuable  horse  would  be  saved  annually  if  this  work  was  in  the  hands  of  every 
horseman.  If  a  horseman,  your  attention  is  earnestly  called  to  this  work.  This 
book,  written  by  a  native  breeder,  and  endorsed  by  all  horsemen  in  Orange  County, 
will  be  sent,  postage  paid,  on  receipt  of  the  price,  $1 ;  3  for  $2.50. 

"  This  book  is  written  in  a  plain  unpretentious,  but  clear  and  interesting  style- 
not  always  rhetorical,  but  generally  logical.  The  book  is  worthy  of  a  large  sale  — • 
Middletoum  (N.  Y.)  Press. 


TO  AGENTS. 

10  copies $7.00  |  25  copies $16.25  |  50  copies $25.00 

Address 

JASON    H.    TUTTLE,    Publisher, 

78  NASSAU  STREET,  NEW  YORK  CITY.  N.  Y. 


DICE  BOXES,  best  polished  league*        ,  #  Ot 

sole  leather,  large            ...  ?§ 

"            "            "        "        meas^an        .        .        .  50 

POCKET  CARD  CASES,  b^  moro*sco  .7% 

CHESS,  or  CHECKER  BO/  KD8  from  50  cts  to  6  00 

IVORY  CHESS  MEN,  ps:  sot,  isow.  fb.OO  to        .  25  OC 

BONE           "            "            "       frohi  |2.00  to        .  5  OC 

WOOD          "           "            "       /roia$2.00to        .  <5  <* 

IVORY  DOMINOES                  from  $8.00  ta        .  15  Go 

BONE                  "                          f*xxm  f  1.50  to        .  5  00 

BOXING  GLOVES,  best  quality  t  per  set        .  5  OC 

"  TRUMPS"  AMERICAN  HOYLE;  OR  GENTLE- 
MAN'S HAND-BOOK  OP  GAMES.— Containing  clear  and 
complete  descriptions  of  the  Games  played  in  the  United  States, 
with  the  American  Rules  for  playing  them;  over  500  pages,  bound 
in  cloth.  Price,  $2.50. 

THE  MODERN  POCKET  HOYLE ;   by  "  TRUMPS."^ 

Containing  all  the  Games  of  Skill  and  Chance,  played  in  this  coun- 
try at  the  present  tune  being  an  "  authority  on  all  disputed  points.' 
388  pages,  paper  covers.  Price  75  cents.  Bound  boards,  with 
cloth  back,  $1.00. 

SPAYTH'S  AMERICAN  DRAUGHT  PLAYER;   or  the 

Theory  and  Practice  of  the  Scientific  Game  of  Checkers.  Simpli- 
fied and  Illustrated  with  Practical  Diagrams.  Containing  upwards 
of  1,700  Games  and  positions.  Bound  in  cloth,  gilt  side  and  back. 
Price,  $3.50. 

SPAYTH'S  DRAUGHTS ;  or  CHECKERS  for  BEGIN- 
NERS.  Small  octavo,  cloth.  Price,  $1.00. 

MARACHE'S  MANUAL  OF  CHESS.— Containing  Prelimin- 
ary Games  for  beginner,  fifty  Openings  of  Games,  giving  all  the 
latest  discoveries  of  modern  masters.  Price,  75  cents 

THE  SCIENCE  OF  SELF-DEFENCE.  A  Treatise  on  Spar- 
ring and  Wrestling,  including  Complete  instructions  in  training. 
By  Ned  Price.  Price,  $1.00. 


$1000 
12  00 
14  00 


POKER    CHIPS. 

1  inch  Ivory,  Red  and  White,  per  hundred 
11-8"  "  "  "  .... 

1  3-4  "  "  "  .... 

Composition  Ivory — 

11-2  inch,  Red,  White  and  Blue,  will  size  up,  per  hundred 
11-4   "     ditto,  Lined,  per  hundred 

Bone 'Cut  to  Measure,  or  size  up— 

1  inch,  per  hundred 
11-8  inch    " 
11-4   " 
1  3-8   " 
1  1-4  " 

Address  all  orders, 

JASON   H.    TUTTLE,    Publisher, 

78  NASSAU  STREET,  NEW  YOKK  CITY,  N.  Y. 


3  00 
5  00 
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9  00 
12  00 


Dr.  Backmon's  Celebrated  Horse  Salve 

Tested,  Tried  and  Approved  by  the  best  known  and 

most  Skillful  Drivers,  Trainers,  Breeders  and 

Owners  of 

THOROTJGHBBED,  TROTTING  and  WORKING 
HORSES. 

Prepared  by  a  Chemist  of  forty  years'  experience,  tinder  the  direction  of  one  of 
the  most  famous  practical  Veterinary  Surgeons  in  the  world. 

WHAT 

Dr.  Backmon's  Celebrated  Horse  Salve 

IS    GOOD   FOR. 

IT  INFALLIBLY  CURES  ALL  DISEASES  OF 

The  Hoof— Contracted  Hoofs — Quarter  Cracks — and  every 
kind  of  "  Hoof  Bound  "—Scratches— Fresh  "Wounds 
—Chafes— Broken  Knees— Hoof  Evil  or  Thrust 
—Rubbing  of  Tail— Bites  and  Stings  of 
Insects— Chapped  Heels— Titfasts 
and  Harness  Galls— Mange- 
Warbles. 

SWELLED    LEGS-CHAPPED    HEELS-ORDINARY    CUTTING- 
SPEEDY    CUTTING. 

Good  for  every  kind  of  Bruise,  Cut,  or  Swelling  that  the  Horse  is 
liable  to,  in  which 

EXTERNAL    APPLICATIONS   ARE   PROPER. 

Dr.  Backmon's  Celebrated  Horse  Salve 

DRAWS  OUT  INFLAMMATION— ALLAYS  ALL  PAIN— SOFTENS 
ALL  HARD    SWELLINGS— TENDS   TO  RESTORE  CIRCU- 
LATION—COATS  OVER   THE   EXPOSED   FLESH- 
REDUCES   STIFF   CORDS  AND   TENDONS- 
ACTS   UPON  STRAINED  MUSCLES— 

And  brings  about  a  Speedy  Relief. 

This  is  not  recommended  as  an  infallible  nostrum  for  every  complaint  "horse- 
flesh is  heir  to."  It  is  never  intended  to  be  taken  internally.  Its  action  is  en- 
tirely through  the  surface  skin.  It  thus  permeates  into  the  part  or  parts  imme- 
diately and  locally  affected,  and  thus  never  fails  to 

Give  Relief  at  Once,  in  Cases,  too,  where  Delay  is 
Dangerous. 

DS.  BACKMON'S  CELEBRATED  HORSE  SALVE  owes  nothing  of  its 
great  success  to  paid-for  puffs.  It  has  \von  all  its  honors  by  its  actual  nse.  There 
are  other  vary  fair  salves  in  the  market— good  occasionally  for  "this  or  that" 
complaint.  But  they  are  generally  made  up  by  Druggists  who  are  only  accus- 
tomed to  compounding  salves  for  human  beings,  and  who  have  no  knowledge  of 
the  anatomy,  nature  and  habits  of  the  horse.  The  most  successful  literary  man 
of  the  day,  and  the  greatest  railroad  owner— both  having  stables  of  the  swiftest 
racers — invariably  keep  a  supply  on  hand,  and  they  have  never  known  a  better 
article— a  QUICKER  OR  SURER  CURE  ALL  for  the  diseases  above  enumerated. 
V  Price,  by  mail,  50  cents  ;  3  Boxes,  $1.25 ;  $4.00  per  dozen. 
Address  all  orders, 

JASON    H.    TUTTLE,    Publisher, 

78  NASSAU  STREET,  NEW  YORK  CITY,  N.  Y. 


BOOKS  ON  THE  HORSE, 

Sent  post-paid  on  receipt  of  price,  by  JASON  H.  TUTTLE,  78  NASSAU 
STBEET,  N.  Y. 

Every  Horse  Owner's  Cyclopedia $3.75 

Coleman's  Pathological  Horse  Shoeing 2.00 

Dadd's  Modern  Horse  Doctor 1.50 

Famous  Horses  of  America 1.50 

Harney's  Barns,  Outbuildings,  and  Fences 4.00 

Jennings'  Horse-Training  Made  Easy 1.25 

Jennings  on  the  Horse  and  His  Diseases 1.75 

McClure's  Diseases  of  the  American  Horse,  etc 2.00 

Miles  on  the  Horse's  Foot 75 

Bruce's  Stud  Book,  2  vols 20.00 

Delisser's  Horseman's  Guide 1.00 

Hanover's  Law  of  Horses. . .  4.00 


HOW  TO  REMIT  MONEY. 

Checks  on  New  York  Banks  or  Bankers  are  best  for  large 
sums,  made  payable  to  the  order  of  JASON  H.  TUTTLE. 

Post  Office  Money  Orders  may  be  obtained  at  nearly  every 
county-seat,  in  all  the  cities,  and  in  many  of  the  large  towns.  We 
consider  them  perfectly  safe,  and  the  best  means  of  remitting  fifty  dol- 
lars or  less,  as  thousands  have  been  sent  to  us  without  any  loss. 

[Registered  Letters  are  a  very  safe  means  of  sending  small  sums 
of  money  where  P.  O.  Money  Orders  cannot  be 'easily  obtained.  Ob- 
serve, the  Registry-fee  as  well  as  postage  must  be  paid  at  the  office 
where  the  letter  is  mailed,  or  it  will  be  liable  to  be  sent  to  the  Dead 
Letter  Office.  Buy  and  affix  the  stamps  both  for  postage  and  registry, 
put  in  the  money,  and  seal  the  letter  in  the  presence  of  the  postmaster, 
and  take  his  receipt  for  it.  Letters  thus  sent  to  us,  are  at  our  risk. 

Write  your  letters  plainly.  Give  the  name  of  your  Post  Office, 
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NASSAU  STREET,  NEW  YORK. 

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and  for  returning  the  money,  and  both  must  be  paid  by  the  party  who 
orders  the  books. 

The  Express  charges,  both  ways,  on  low-priced  books,  to  remote 
parts  of  the  country,  are  equal  to,  and  sometimes  double,  the  value  of 
the  books  ordered  ;  and  the  delay  in  returning  money  frequently  ex- 
tends over  several  months. 

Where  parties  order  books  by  Express  C.  O.  D.,  five  dollars  must  be 
remitted  with  the  order,  and  the  balance,  with  charges  both  ways,  wUl 
be  collected  on  delivery  of  the  books. 

Address  all  orders  for  any  book  or  other  article  to 

JASON  H.  TUTTLE,  Publisher, 

78  NASSAU  8TJJWST,  ¥»W  YOBK  CITY,  N.  Y 


Catalogue  of  Veterinary  Instruments 

FOR   SALE  BY 

J.    H.   TUTTLE, 

78  Nassau  Street,  New  York  City,  N.  Y. 


Aneurism  Needle, $  1  50 

Antiseptic  Atomiser.  (Fig.  1) 15  00 

Apparatus  for  singeing  with  alcohol,  without  pipe, 5  00 

with  pipe, 700 

Arm  Protector,  Rubber, 3  00 

Artery  Forceps,  (Fig.  39  and  40,  page  9). 2  50 

Articulated  Fole  Hooks,  blunt  and  sharp, each,  4  00 

Balling  Guns,  brass, 300 

do.       Goodwin's  with  soft  end  for  Protection  of  Gums,  9  00 

Balling  Irons,  for  introducing  balls  with  the  hand.  (Fig.  2). .  2  00 

"Bandages,  Derby, four  $1.00 4  dozen,  10  00 


Jason  H.   Tuttle's 


Bistoury  cachee  (Fig.  60),  10  inch.,  $8.00;  18  inch.,  heavy $12  00 

do.        twobladed, 300 

Bistouries,  curved  and  straight,  sharp  and  probe-pointed,.. each,  1  50 
Blackwell's  Apparatus,  for  horses'  legs,  producing  num- 
erous and  constant  streams  of  hot  or  cold  water,  to  be  attached 
to  a  hydrant,  or  pump,  or  made  to  supply  itself  upon  the 

syphon  principle,  made  of  India  Rubber,  improved,  (Fig.  3), .  8  00 
Bone  Forceps,  for  breaking  out  pieces  of  decayed  bone.  (Fig.  58, 

page  13)  $3.00 extra  large 600 

Blood  Sticks,  hardwood 50 

do.    filled  with  lead ...  250 

Bog  Spavin  Truss,  Prof.  Going's.    (Fig.  3a) 7  00 

Budding  Iron, 1  50 

Bullet  Forceps, 2  75 

*Caponizing   Instruments,  Farmer  Miles,   consisting   of 
Knife,  Section  Spreader  and  Ovary  Forceps;  in  neat  case,  with 

full  directions $7.00;  extra  knife,  fine,  10  00 

Casting  Hobbles,  see  Hobbles. 

Carbolized  Catgut  Ligature,  (thick) per  bottle,  0  75 

Castrating  Clamps,  with  slide  on  handle,  (Similar  to  Fig.  4),  6  50 

do.      with  spring  regulating  rack.     (Fig.  4), 6  50 

do.      French,  with  ratchet  in  handle,     (Fig.  32), 10  00 

do.      with  screw  for  closing  caustic  clams, 4  00 

do.      with  regulating  rack  for  caustic  clams, 4  75 

do.      Mink's 700 

do.      McKenzie's 8  00 

do.      House's  latest,  (Fig.  33) 10  00 

do.      William's,  (Fig.  34) 7  50 

Castrating  Ecrasseurs,  see  Ecrasseurs. 

Castrating  Torsion  Forceps,  William's.  (Fig.  35), 6  00 

Castrating  Knife,. 2  00 

Catheters,   Elastic,    for  Horses,    common,  $1.50;  best,  with 

coiled  wire  inside, 3  00 

do.            for  Horses,  with  stilet  whalebone,  best, 5  00 

cane, 2  75 

do.            for  Mares, 1  25 

do.            soft  metal,  fqr  Mares, 2  50 

Cattle  Trocars, 4  00 


Catalogue  oj  Veterinary  Instruments. 


33 


Jason  H.   Tuttle's 


Cautery  Irons,  9  patterns,  plain,  not  polished,  in  handles,  each  $1  50 
do.            do.      polished,  without  handles,  9  patterns,  (Fig.  5) 

each, 1  60 

Ebony  handle  with  fastening  screw,  for  latter,     2  00 

do.           do.      for  pyropuncture, •'••..  3  50 

do.          do.     with  three  changeable  iron  points 8  50 

do.          do.     with  platinum  point 4  00 

do.        Iron  Forge,  (Fig.  6) 7  50 

do.        Lamp,  self-blowing,  (Fig.  7) 7  50 

Chain  Saw,  (Fig.  36) 10  00 

Chain  Saw,  extra  heavy  and  strong,  veterinarian's  special,  dental  12  50 

do.      do.  Carrier, 3  50 

Clinical  Thermometers,  see  Thermometers. 

Clippers,  illustrations  page  6. 

Directions  for  use.  Currycomb  and  clean  the  horse  well  as 
done  ordinarily  before  clipping;  oil  the  teeth  and  comb  well 
and  work  the  clipper  against  the  direction  of  the  hair. 

Always  keep  the  teeth  and  joint  well  oiled  and  see  that  the 
wrench,  which  prevents  the  screw  from  turning  back,  is  well 
tightened. 

Clark's,  (Fig.  8) 5  00 

Phipp's  and  Burman's,  self  sharpening,  (Fig.  57) 7  50 

Extra  parts  for  the  above. 

Reversible  plates,  per  pair, %  5  00 

Upper  handles,  (left) 1  50 

Lower        "       (right) 115 

Arched  Springs. 50 

Bolt  and  thumb-nut 60 

The  double  set  of  teeth,  the  self-sharpening,  the  reversible 
plates,  the  arched  spring  pressing  the  plates  together  firmly 
and  evenly,  and  the  duplication  of  broken  parts,  are  features 
which  are  found  in  no  other  clipper,  and  which,  joined  to  the 
other  admirable  qualities  of  this  clipper,  render  it  the  best  in 
the  market. 

*0ne  hand,  (Fig.  85) 5  Q0 

*Clipper,  No.  1  Power  Clipper,  ^  75  00 

*  do.       No.  2  Power  Clipper,  I  fvirf    Q 50  00 

*  do.       No.  3  Power  Clipper]  p^'  8a> 3500 

*  do.       No.  4  Power  Clipper,  J  50  00 

Further  information  given  about  Power   Clippers  on 

demand. 
d 


Catalogue  of  Veterinary  Instruments. 


Jason  II.   Tuttle's 


Clipping  Combs,  horn,  60c. ;  steel,  $1.50;  German  silver,, $1  25 

Clipping  Shears, $1  25  and    1  50 

Coecum  Trocars, 8  00 

Comb  for  Manes, 75 

Copeman's  Needles,  3  in  one  handle.     (Fig.  9) 3  00 

Crotchets, 3  00 

Dental  forceps,  saws  and  files,  see  'Tooth/ 
Delaford's  graduated  Lancet  and  grooved  Spatula, 

for  Inoculating  Cattle,  in  case, 7  50 

Directors, 75 

Dissecting  Case,  contains:  3  Ebony  Scalpels;  Scissors;  Forceps j 

Blowpipe;  Set  Chain  Hooks,  Tenaculum.    Mahogany  Case,. .     5  50 


Catalogue  of  Vetertwri   Instruments. 


Dissecting  Case,  contains :  4  Scalpels,  Scissors,  Forceps,  Saw, 

Cartilage  Knife,  Blow  pipe,  Needle  and  Silk, $12  00 

Dissecting  Forceps,  (Fig.  10) 1  00 

Docking  Shears, 3  00 

Drenching  Horn,  tin,  Patent,  (Fig.  llo) 1  00 

Drenching  Horn,  J.  R.  &  Co's.  (Fig.  11).  This  has  been 
devised  with  a  view  to  obviate  all  difficulty  in  administering 
fluid  medicine  to  horses  and  cattle.  It  consists  of  two  compart- 
ments, A  and  B  ;  B  communicating  with  the  metal  tube  B,  and 
A  with  the  soft  rubber  hose  A.  The  vessel  B  is  to  hold  the 
medicated  fluid  and  A  luke  warm  water  which  may  be  filled 
in  through  C.  The  soft  rubber  hose  A  is  introduced  into  one 
of  the  nostrils,  and  the  metal  tube  B  into  the  mouth;  the  horn 
is  then  to  be  tilted  upwards,  when  the  water  will  enter  the 
nostril,  force  the  animal  to  swallow  and  take  the  medicine 
without  difficulty.  Price. 200 


Jason  &. 


Ecrasseurs,  Maisonneuve's  curved  (Fig.  12),  $20.00 ;  extra 

heavy. * $24  00 

4o.  Maisonneuve's  extra  fine,  straight  and  curved 

attachment,  with  two  chains  and  four  strengths 

of  wire  rope 36  00 

do.             Chassaignac's,  large  curved,  castrating  (Fig.  13)  27  00 
io.                        do.           small,  for  polypus,  and  castra- 
ting small  animals, 20  00 

do.  Farmer  Miles',  (Fig.  14) 20  00 

do.  Wire small  $6.00;  very  long,  10  00 

do.  Improved  with  regulating  wheel  and  ratchet, . .  18  00 

Elastic  Catheters,  see  Catheters. 

Exploring  Trocar.     (Fig.  37) 150 

do.         do.      with  exhausting  bulb, 2  00 

EyeSpeculum.     (Fig.  38) 150 

do.  with  Set  screw, 4  00 

Fleams,  plain 1  bladed,  $1.25;  2  bl. ,  $1.50,  3  bl.     1  75 

do.    extra  fine,  .  .nickelplated,  1  bl.,  $2.00,  2  bl.,  $2.50,  3  bl.     3  00 
See  also  "  Knives." 
Floats,  see  "  Tooth  Rasps." 

Fole  Hooks,  plain,  <Wunt  ^  sh        9  inch  j         each> )  8  00 

do.          articulated,    (  )  4  00 

Foot  Forceps,  for  testing  strength,  McCluer's, 7  00 

Forceps,  artery.     (Fig.  39  and  40) 250 

Forceps,  Torsion.     (Pig.  44) 300 

do.        Dressing.     (Fig.  41) $2.50  and    300 

do.       Dissecting.    (Fig.  10) 1  00 

do.        Polypus.     (Fig.  41) $2.00  and    825 

do.        Castrating,  Williams'.     (Fig.  35) 600 

do.        Bullet, 275 

do.        Dental  for  Wolf -teeth,  9  inches 350 

do.  do.      15  inches, larger,    5  50 

do.  do.      small  7  1-2  inches, 175 

Uum  Lancet, 1  50 

Herniatome,  12  00 

Hobbles,  2500 

Our  Hobbles  are  of  the  latest  and  most  practical  style;  by 
the  withdrawal  of  a  small  bolt,  they  drop  off  and  the  horse  is 
instantly  released. 

Cni  heters,  see  Catheters. 


Catalogue  «/  Veterinary  Instruments. 


44  44 


Jason  H.  Tutttes 


Hypodermic  Syringes.    (Fig.  15) $5  00 

Hysterotome  (Fig.  60),  10  inches,  $8.00;  18  inches 12  00 

Injecting  Pump,  Reed's  in  case,  best, 25  00 

Inoculating  Needle, 2  25 

Knives,  (see  also  Bistouries  and  Scalpels), 

Drawing,  or  Hoof,  Semi-circular,  "Farrier's,"  U.  S.  A. 

$land 1  25 

do.  Various  other  shapes,  sharp  pointed  and  bent 

over  in  stiff  handles, $1.50    1  75 

do.  closing  in  handle,  for  pocket 1  50 

Set  of  two  different  sized  curved  and  one  sharp  pointed 
double  edged  Drawing  Knives,  fitting  in  one  spring 

handle, • 6  00 

Set  of  12  Hoof  Knives,  fitting  in  one  handle,  in  leather  case  18  00 

Sage,  various  patterns $1.50    1  75 

Embryotomy,  in  hard  rubber  handle,  with  concealed  slid- 
ing spring  blade  (Fig.  42) 3  50 

Embryotomy,  with  ring  for  holding  on  finger  (Fig.  43). . .     1  75 

Castrating 2  00 

*Farmer  Miles',  4  bladed,  Castrating 7  00 

Manifold  combination  Instrument,  containing:  2  fleams,  1 

drawing-knife,  1  bistoury  and  1  probe 3  00 

Nerving  set  of  three,  two  with  upward  and  lateral  blunt 
projection  right  and  left  and  probe-pointed  curved 

knife,  each, 2  00 

Serving,  Fleming's,  with  eye  near  point  (Fig.  45) 2  00 

Periostotomy  Knife, 1  50 

Pricking,  spring  back,.  .1  bladed,  $2.25,  2  bladed,  $3.00, 

3  bladed, 875 

Nicking, 1  75 

Lactometer, 1  00 

Lamp  for  illuminating  mouth,  nasal,  rectal  and  vaginal  cavities 

(Fig.  53), $7.00;  incase     9  00 

See  also  Student's  Lamp. 

Lancets  (Fig.  46) 75 

Leg  Spreader  for  Castrating,  Farmer  Miles',  

Mane  Combs, 75 

Marine  Lint,  the  best  anti-septic,  expressly  prepared  for  sur- 
gical purposes, per  Ib.        75 

*Medicine  case.     (Fig.  16). 17  00 

Various  styles,  from  $5.00  to  $23.00. 
Milk  Tubes, each,     1  50 

Mouth  Speculum,  with  screw,  Varnell's,    (Fig.  17) 12  00 

Nasal  Irrigator,  tin, 3  50 


Catalogue  of  Veterinary  Instruments. 


Jason  H.  Tuttle's 


Needles,  straight,  half  curved  and  full  curved,  each  15c. ;  per 

doz $1  50 

do.      into  which  soft  wire  is  to  be  screwed, each,  50 

Soft  lead  wire  for  same,  per  (foil, 35c.  and  45 

Needles,  Copeman's,  3  to  screw  on  one  handle.    (Fig.  9) 3  00 

do.        new  set  of  three  (Fig.  54) SCO 

Needle  Holder,  slide  fastening, 3  50 

do             and  Wire  Nipper, 350 

Needle  Holder,  Russian.    (Fig.  18) 4  00 

Nose  Elevator, 1  00 

Nose  Speculum, 3  75 

Opthalmoscopes.     (Fig.  19) . . . $3.50  and  450 

do.               to  fasten  on  head  to  have  hands  free,  accord- 
ing to  size, $6.00  to  9  56 

Palet  Lancet,  with  slide  catch 3  00 

Parturition  Instruments :  Repulsor    )  K  .     ,,  M  ,  QA  *„  i^ 

Sling-Carrier,  straight  and  curved,  I  5  **  ""*  30  m'  lon£>  ,  ^ 

Sharp  and  Blunt  Hook, )      each> 

Parturition  Set,  consisting  of  repeller  with  two  lateral  articu- 
lated prongs  on  one  end;  convenient  handle  on  the  other,  in 
one  piece,  39  inches  long;  and  a  blunt  and  sharp  hook  screw- 
ing on  one  handle,  each  36  inches  long  when  screwed  together,  22  00 

Periostotomy  Set,  Spooner's,  containing:  1  curved  blunt  pointed 
Seaton  Needle,  one  small  probe-pointed  convex  Bistoury;  1 
large  probe-pointed  concave  Bistoury;  1  double-edged  knife 

and3needles, 10  00 

Pessary,  inflating,  for  mares  and  cows.    (Fig.  20) 6  CO 

Planes,  Charlier's,  for  shoeing  a  la  Periplantaire,. ...  3  50 

Polypus  Forceps.    (Fig.  41) $2.00  and  325 

Porte  Meche, 50 

Porte  Caustic,  ordinary,  all  hard  rubber,  75c;  h.  r.  and  silver,. .  1  25 
Porte  Caustic,  new,  self-holding,   incorrodible  platinum  and 

aluminum.    (Fig.  56) 850 

Post  Mortem  Case,  Liautard's, 15  00 

Post  Mortem   Set,   containing:  Saw,   Strong  Knife,  Cartilage 

Knife,  Chisel,  Scalpels,  2  Scissors,  Hooks,  Forceps,  Blowpipe, 

and  Needles,  in  strong  case.    (See  also  "  Dissecting  Cases.")..  25  00 

Probangs, of  cane,  $4.50,  Whalebone,  9  00 

do         covered  with  leather,  for  cattle,  with  cane  stilet. 

(F%.  21). 16  00 

Probes,  long,  plated,  in  two  parts  to  screw  together  (Fig.  62), ..  1  25 

**      loa$, ,.„.,. ,..,.,. whalebone,  75c.;  lead  50 


Catalogue  of  Veterinary  Instruments, 


Jason  H.  Turtle's 


Beed's  Injecting  Pump,  in  case,  best, $25  00 

Bowling  Scissors, 2  00 

*Saddle  Bags.     Improved  Physician's.     (Fig,  22.)  Made  of  the 

black  bridle  leather,  20  ground  stoppered  vials,  12  00 

do.  24  ground  stoppered  vials 13  00 

This  bag  is  entirely  rivetted,  and  the  boxes  containing  the 
bottles  are  made  of  tin.  It  also  has  a  watershed  protecting 
the  whole  contents  from  rain. 

Saws,  Bone 5  00 

do.      For  separating  horse's  teeth.     (Fig.  47). 1  50 

J.  C.  Myer's  Saw,  with  screw,  fastening  on  a  handle  of  usual 
length,  as  also  on  a  rod  30  inches  long,  for  separating  the 
bones  of  the  pelvis  in  cases  of  dystocia  dependent  upon  pos- 
terior presentation 3  50 

Scalpels,  two-bladed 3  00 

Scissors .straight,  $1.25,  curved,  1  75 

Seaton  Needles,  plain  6,  9,  and  12  inches. .  ..75c.,  $1.00  and  1  25 

do.                  blunt,  probe-points ..$1.00  and  1  50 

do,                  in  protecting  horn  handle,  (Fig.  63) 1  75 

uo.                  2  and  3  parts  to  screw  together.  .$2.75  and  3  50 

do.                  Frog,  S  form,  in  two  parts 2  75 

do.                  Frog,  semi-circular,  6  inches 2  50 

do.                  Dog,  plain 1  50 

do.                 Hock 3  75 

Serrefine's  steel 75 

*Student's  Lamp,  best  (Fig.  55) $5.00;  nickel-plated,  6  00 

*  Suspending  Slings,  for  small  and  medium  horses.    (Fig.  23)  18  00 

do.              for  any  size  horse 20  00 

Without  pulleys  and  ropes,  which  can  be  had  to  suit  at  any 

hardware  store.     We  can  supply  the  same  for 9  00 

Silk,  ordinary,  per  skein 10 

do.   one  sfte  on  card. 35 

do.   four  sizes  on  card 75 

do.   heavy  in  rolls 35 

Spring  Lancets,  in  case,  plain.     (Fig.  24) 2  50 

do.                  guarded,  in  case 3  00 

Standards,  plain *\  00 

Standards  and  walking  cane  combined. ..,...,,.,,-  .$12.00  and  14  00 


Jason  H.   Tuttle's 


Stethoscopes,  plain.     (Fig.  25) |1  50 

do.          in  two  parts  screwing  together 2  00 

Stomach  Tubes,  elastic 7  50 

Suture  Pins per  dozen,         50 

Syringes,   White  metal.    (Fig.  26.)    In  box,  24  oz.     $3.00, 

36  oz.  $4.00,  48  oz ,     5  oo 

do.          Hard  Rubber,  in  box,  24  oz 7  50 

do.          Fine  Brass,  in  box,  24  oz 12  50 

Taxidermists'  Cases $4.00  and  11  50 

Thermometers,  Fever,  plain,  in  cases    (Fig.  27) 2  50 

do.  self -registering,  in  case.     (Fig.  28).     4  in., 

$3.00,  6  in 3  50 

We  have  lately  made  arrangements  by  which  we  can  supply  with  any 
thermometer  (of  our  or  other  manufacture)  a  certificate  stating  its  diversions, 
if  any,  from  the  correct  scale.  The  test,  that  preparatory  to  this  the  thermom- 
eters are  subjected  to,  Is  equal  to  the  most  careful  and  reliable  that  can  be 
made.  Thermometers  with  a  certificate  from  us  are  preferable  to  any  "  war- 
ranted "  or  "tested,"  as  such  bone  fide  statements  cannot  be  as  desirable  as  a 
true  statement  of  diversions.  The  price  of  the  certificate  is  $1.00.  Thermome- 
ter Fig.  28  if  kept  on  hand  with  and  without  certificate. 

rhoroughpin  Truss,  Prof.  Going's $10  00 

rhumb  Lancets,     (Fig.  46) 75 

Tooth  Chisel,  Prof.  Going's.  (Fig  29) 17  50 

do.  do.       French 14  00 

do.      Forceps,  for  Wolf -teeth,  9  inches 3  50 

do.  do.        large  15  inches 5  50 

do.  do.         small  7 1-2  inches 1  75 

do.  do.        large,  with  closing  screw.     (Fig.  59) 24  00 

do.       Cutting  Forceps,  Liautard's,  large,  hooked  so  as  to 

prevent  slipping , 26  00 

*do.  Rasps,  stiff  handle,  plain 1  75 

*do.  do.       guarded,  (Fig.  30) 375 

*do.  do.      jointed  handles,  plain 3  00 

*do.  do.                do.              guarded 3  75 

do.  do.       Adjustable  (Fig.  31a),  stiff  handle 3  00 

do.  do.             do.       unscrewing  (Fig.  316) 4  00 

do.                      Extra  files  for  same.  (Fig.  31c) each,  40 

do.       File,  plain,  for  front  teeth 1  00 

do.       File,  in  handle,  for  front  teeth 3  00 

do.       Saw,  small.  (Fig.  47,  page  15) 1  50 

do.       Saw,  bow,  3  blades.  (Fig.  48,  page  18) 6  50 

Tooth  Knife  and  pick,  heavy  for  teeth,  bones  and  gums.    Hurl- 

burt's.     (Fig.  49,  page  18) 200 

Tooth-cutting  Forceps,  small,  according  to  size.    (Fig.  51,  51a), 

$3.00,  $5.00 7  50 

House's  Tooth  Forceps,  bayonet  curve 4  00 

do.          do.        do.        long  and  heavy,  with  sectional  handles  24  00 
do.          do.  Cutting  Forceps,  long  and  heavy,  with  sectional 
handles 24  00 

House's  Cutting  Forceps,  for  lower  grinders 7  00 

f 


Catalogue  oj    Veterinary  Instruments. 


Jason  H.  Tuttle's 


House's  Tooth-Catting  Forceps,  for  front  teeth.    (Fig.  61) $7  00 

da        do.        da        da        for  separating  teeth 7  00 

da      Dental  Hook 2  00 

do.      Tooth-file  for  front  teeth 1  00 

Tracheotomy  Tubes,  metal,  plain 4  00 

do.              hard  rubber 400 

do.              self -retaining.     (Fig.  52  page  K) .  6  CO 

do.              Liautard's 15  00 

The  part  A,  which  is  shown  separately,  is  removable  to 
enable  introduction. 

Trephine,  conic.     (Fig.  50) 400 

Trocar,  Coecum 3  00 

Trocar,  Exploring.    (Fig.  37  page  i) $1.50  and  2  00 

Trocar  for  Sheep,  with  three  canulas,  with  side  and  front 

holes 2  75 

do.      plain,  for  sheep,  with  cap 3  50 

do.      plain,  for  cattle 4  00 

do.      Hyovertebrotomy 8  00 

Urinometer ,.  200 


Catalogue  of  Veterinary  Instruments, 


IMPORTED  POCKET-CASES 

Twofold  Case,  (French,)  containing :  Scalpel,  two-bladed  Fleam.  tfcis 
sors  curved  on  flat,  Artery  Forceps.  Director.  Beaton  Needle  In  to  parts, 
Lancet,  Needles,  and  Silk $20  Ou 

Fine  Two  Flap  Solid  Frame  Cage,  (French,)  containing  Sage  Knife, 
two-bladed  Fleam,  Artery  Forceps,  Drawing  Knife.  Lancet.  Beaton 
Needle  In  3  parts,  Director.  Scissors  curved  on  flat,  Scalpel,  Finger 
Knife,  Needles,  Pins  and  Silk 30  00 

Twofold  Case,  (English,)  contains:  Plain  Probe  with  eye, New  Nerving 
Knife,  Lancet,  Bounding  Scissors,  Straight  Scissors,  Spatula,  Exploring 
Trocar,  Curved  Bistoury,  Castrating  Knife,  Scalpel,  Nicking  Knife, 
Director 22  00 

Threefold,  (English,)  containing:  2  Fleams,  straight  Scissors,  Beaton 
Needle  in  horn  protection,  2  Lancets,  Director  and  Scoop,  Spatula,  Cas- 
trating Knife,  Rowling  Scissors,  Probe-pointed  Bistoury,  Aneurism  Nee- 
dle and  Tenaculum,  Dressing  Forceps,  Scalpel,  Drawing  Knife,  Needlea 
and  Silk 8000 

Flue  Threefold  Case,  (French,)  containing:  Castrating  Knife,  three- 
bladed  Fleam,  Scissors  curved  on  flat,  Artery  Forceps,  Director,  Scalpel, 
2  Drawing  Knives,  Finger  Knife,  Dressing  Forceps,  Porte  Caustic,  Bea- 
ton Needle  In  three  parts,  3  Sage  Knives,  2  Lancets,  Needles  and  Silk...  32  00 

Extra  Fine  Threefold  Case,  (French,)  containing:  Castrating  Knife, 
three-bladed  Fleam,  Scissors  curved  on  flat,  Artery  Forceps,  Long 
shank  probe-pointed  Bistoury,  Trocar,  Finger  Knife,  Beaton  Needle 
closing  in  handle,  Frog  Beaton  Needle  In  2  parts,  Beaton  Needle  In  3 
parts,  Scalpel.  Director,  Retractor,  Straight  Bistoury,  Dressing  Forceps, 
Porte  Caustic,  Tenotomy  Knife,  Fenaculum,  6  assorted  drawing  Knives, 
SLancets,  Needles  and  Silk ; 50  00 

Liantard's  Hooi  Operating  Set,  Right  Sage  Knife,  Left  Sage  Knife, 
double  edge  Sage  Knife,  2  Drawing  Knives  of  assorted  sizes,  Searching 
Knife,  Plain  Spring  Forceps,  Scissors  curved  on  flat,  Director,  Silver 
Probe;  In  mahogany  box 16  00 


LIAI  TARI)  *»  MEDICINE  CASE. 

tiantard's  Medicine  Chest  and  Instrument  Case  combined. 
6  Two-oz.  Glass  stoppered  Bottles,  2  Glass  Jar  for  Ointments,  Bailing 
Iron,  Elastic  Catheter. 

In  Drawer  B. 

Right  Sage  Knife,  Left  Sage  Knife,  double  edge  Sage  Knife,  3  Drawing 
Knives  of  assorted  sizes,  Searching  Knife,  Plaster  Spatula. 

In  Drawer  A. 

Scalpel,  straight  edge,  elide  catch,  Scalpel,  convex  edge,  slide  catch,  2 
Assorted  Lancets,  Coecum  Trocar,  Dog  Beaton  Needle,  Plain  Artery  for- 
ceps. Grooved  Beaton  Needle  In  two  parts,  Scissors  curved  on  flat,  Direc- 
tor, Porte  Caustic,  H.  R.  Syringe,  wit1!  extra  cone  fitting  into  the  canuia 
* 


Jason  H.  Tuttle's 


of  the  Coecum  Trocar.    Put  up  in  a  strong  wood  frame  case,  covered 

with  black  russet  leather,  having  a  handle  on  the  top  of  the  cover $55  00 

When  desired  the  above  case  is  also  furnished  without  the  contente  of 

the  drawer  A 34  50 

Or  the  same  will  be  filled  with  such  instruments  as  the  purchaser  may  select. 

J.  H.  T'S  POCKET  CASES. 

Twofold  Pocket  Case,  contains:  Scalpel,  sharp- pointed  Bistoury, 
Lancet,  one-blade  Fleam,  Tenaculum,  straight  Scissors,  plain  Artery 
Forceps,  double-edged  Hoof  Knife,  Seaton  Needle,  plain  Probe  to  un- 
screw, in  2  parts,  4  needles,  and  Silk $15  00 

Threefold  Pocket  Case,  contains:  2  different  Scalpels,  2  different 
Bistouries,  Tenaculum,  Lancet,  one-blade  Fleam,  Hoof  Knife,  single 
edge,  Hoof  Knife,  double  edge,  Seaton  Needle,  to  unscrew,  3  parts, 
Probe,  to  unscrew,  2  parts,  Curved  Scissors,  Dressing  Forceps,  plain 
irtery  Forceps,  4  Needles,  and  Silk $24  00 

Pocket  Gases  in  all  varieties  made  up  to  order. 


THE  NEW  SET  OP   INSTRUMENTS   FOB    CLOSING 
QUARTER  CRACKS  IN  HOOFS. 

(From  the  "  Spirit  of  the  Times.") 

Our  attention  has  recently  been  called  to  an  improved  method  of  closing  cra- 
cks and  fissures  in  the  horse's  hoof.  The  drawing  will  indicate  the  form  of  the 
apparatus,  which  consists  essentially  of  two  parts ;  an  instrument  for  punctur- 
ing the  hoof— a  powerful  pair  of  forceps  for  compressing  the  ends  or  points 
of  the  clamps  into  the  hoof.  Punctures  on  each  side  of  the  crack  in  the  wall 


of  hoof  are  effected  by  the  cautery  at  red  heat,  to  a  sufficient  depth  to  insure 
secure  hold  of  the  clamp,  which  by  means  of  the  forceps,  is  first  pushed  firmly 
Into  the  punctures  made  by  the  cautery,  and  then  the  ends  of  the  clamps 
are  carefully  compressed  by  the  forceps,  using  no  greater  force  than  the 
animal  will  bear  without  pain.  We  have  used  these  clamps  in  a  number  of 
cases  with  complete  success. 

FORCEPS, $6.5O 

FIRING  IRONS, 2.5O 

CHAMPS, per  dozen,  O.5O 

Forceps  with  which  two  sizes  of  clamps 

can  t>e  compressed, 12.5O 

Two  Firing  Irons  for  latter, 4.5O 


Catalogue  of  Veterinary  Instruments. 


AUZOUX'S  CLASTIC  MODELS. 

RELATING  TO  VETERINARY  ANATOMY, 

IMPORTED  TO  ORDER  BY 

JASON    H.   TUTTLE, 

78  Nassau  Street,  New  York  City,  N.  Y. 


We  allow  20  per  cent,  from  the  prices  below  and  a  deposit  to  be  given  with  the 
order  amounting  to  about  30  per  cent,  of  its  value. 

Clastic  anatomy  is  distinguished  from  all  other  substitutes  that  have 
hitherto  been  invented  to  supply  the  want  of  natural  preparations 

1. — By  its  extraordinary  strength  and  durability; 

2. — By  the  nature  of  its  composition; 

3. — By  its  mode  of  fabrication; 

4. — By  the  possibility  of  furnishing  any  kind  of  models; 

5. — By  the  possibility  of  detaching  all  the  parts,  one  after  another,  as 
would  be  done  by  the  most  skillful  dissector,  and  replacing  them 
with  the  same  facility; 

6.— By  the  possibility  of  showing  all  the  details,  even  the  most  min- 
ute, which  enter  into  the  composition  of  each  animal; 

7. — By  the  possibitity  of  reproducing,  in  gigantic  proportions,  the  or- 
gans and  details  in  visible  to  the  naked  eye. 
These  models  are  made  with  a  special   preparation,  which,  when 

newly  composed,  is  run  into  moulds;  during  this  process  it  takes  on 

the  most  delicate  impressions,  and  afterwards,  when  thoroughly  dry, 

acquires  a  remarkable  degree  of  lightness   and  elasticity,  combined 

with  a  degree  of  strength  equal  to  that  of  wood. 

34.  Arab  horse,  complete  anatomy,  exhibiting  more  than  3,000 
details  decomposing  into  97  pieces;  showing  on  one  side  the 
superficial  muscles,  nerves,  and  vessels;  on  the  other,  the 
same  removable,  separately,  as  in  a  dissection,  from  the 
superficial  layer  to  the  skeleton;  splanchnic  cavities  contain- 
ing their  viscera,  which  also  may  be  removed  and  studied 
separately.     This  new  model  of  the  horse  has  been  adopted 
in  French  cavalry  regiments,  and  in  all  the  veterinary  and 
agricultural  schools.     It  has  also  been  purchased  by  several 
foreign  governments  as  an  efficacious  means  of  disseminat- 
ing anatomical  and  physiological  knowledge,  indispensable 

to  the  art  of  horse  breeding $2,100  50 

Stand,  spatula,  descriptive  pamphlet,  and  case 52  50 

35.  The  same,  less  complete,  showing  on  one  side  the  muscles, 
nerves  and  vessels  of  the  superficial  layer;  on  the  other,  the 
middle  layer  and  the  organs  in  their  respective  cavities, 
separable  as  in  the  complete  model 1,050  00 

Stand,  spatula,  descriptive  pamphlet,  and  case 52  50 

u 


Catalogue  of  Veterinary  Instruments. 


36.  Thirty  Maxillae,  or  jaw  bones,  displaying  correctly  the  age 
of  the  horse  at  every  period  of  life,  with  examples  of  such 
malformations  as  may  make  the  horse  appear  older   or 
younger 105  00 

37.  Plate,  displaying  in  relief  the  shape  and  structure  of  all  the 
teeth  of  the  horse 8  00 

38.  Fourteen  maxillae,  or  jaws  of  an  ox,  displayiny  correctly  its 

age 52  50 

39.  Swellings  of  tha  bones.    Log  of  sound  horse,  divested  of  the 
skin  and  amputated  8  inches  above  the  ham,  from  which 
different  portions  of  bone  may  be  removed  and  replaced  by 
diseased  specimens.     These,  to  the  number  of  13,  show  hi 
various    degrees    of   development,    the  osseous  swellings 
known  as  spavin,  curb,  ringbone ,  etc 52  50 

40.  Leg  of  a  horse  divested  of  the  skin,  with  swellings  of  the 
bones  in  place 26  25 

41     The  same,  covered   by  the   skin,  with   models  of  all  the 

various  swellings  of  the  bones  in  place 26  25 

42.  Leg  of  a  horse  in  a  he  althy  state,  covered  by  the  skin 26  25 

43.  Skeleton  of  the  leg  of  a  horse,  12  distinct  bones,  each  sepa- 
rately removable ....  26  25 

44.  Soft  swellings  of  the  leg  of  a  horse;  the  limb  divested  of 
the  skin,  in  one-half  its  extent,  the  skin  preserved  in  the 
remainder,  with  instances  of  soft  swellings,  windgalls,  thor- 
ough pins,  and  capellets $26  25 

45.  Foot  of  a  horse,  showing  the  disposition  of  the  hoof,  the 
"  podophillons,"  tissue,  the  vessels,  nerves,  etc.,  (all  those 

parts  taken  to  pieces). 26  25 

The  same  with  the  hoof,   separating  after  the  manner  of 
Bracy  Clark;  showing  also  the  parts  to  hold  the  shoe  of 
Charlier's  pattern 34  00 

45  bis  Model  of  Normal  horse's  foot,  made  of  Plaster  of  Paris. .  12  00 

46.  Horse's  hoof,  separable,  according   to  the  plan  of  Bracy 

Clark,  into  the  wall  sole,  frog,  and  periople 8  00 

The  same;  illustrating  the  shoeing  of  Charlier 10  50 

47.  Pelvis  of  mare,  dry  bones 26  25 

48.  Uterus  of  mare,  empty,  with  internal  and  external  append- 
ages, Fallopian  tubes,  ovaries,  etc,,  the  whole  fitting  into  the 
pelvis 42  00 

49.  Uterus  of  cow,  empty,  with  its  appendage* 42  00 

50.  Uterus  of  cow,  with  the  product  of  conception  at  the  4th 
month .  52  50 


Jason  H.  TuttlJs  Catalogue. 


FOURTEEN  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


22Augy56  TW 


AUG261980 


REC  OR.  FFR2  8  '8Q 


LD  21-100m-2,'55 
(B139s22)476 


General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 


B 


